Family of Former Cottageville Mayor Receives $97.5 Million for Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Former Police Officer
The family of the former mayor of Cottageville, SC received $97.5 million for punitive and actual damages in a wrongful death lawsuit, the jury decided Wednesday, October 15th, after the victim was shot and killed by a former police officer during a disagreement.
Defendant Randall Price, who reportedly had a questionable record as a police officer, shot former Cottageville mayor Bert Reeves in the chest during an argument on May 16th, 2011. Reeves’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against not only Price, but the Cottageville police department for allowing him to continue as an officer, and against the town of Cottageville itself.
The wrongful death trial lasted 9 days in Charleston, SC.
“All Bert ever wanted to do was to provide for his kids, and he did that today,” the family’s attorney said after the wrongful death trial’s verdict. “In most lawsuits one party has the long end of the stick and the other party has the short end of the stick. In this case, the Reeves family had a branch and the town and Randall Price didn’t have as much as a splinter.”
According to testimony and court documents, Reeves raised concerns about Price’s aggressive behavior with the police officer outside of the Cottageville town hall. Price had been hired in Cottageville in 2008, despite a string of terminations across South Carolina for insubordination, dangerous use of firearms, and other forms of misconduct. However, instead of considering safety when hiring Price, town officials thought of the amount of revenue he could generate for them, including $600,000 in tickets between 2008 and 2011.
Reeves, however, was concerned about Price’s actions, and said so. That led directly to his death, when Price decided to retaliate.
The $97.5 million wrongful death lawsuit award includes $7.5 million in actual damages for Reeves’s death; $60 million in punitive damages against the town; and $30 million in punitive damages against Price.
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A single moment can last a lifetime. An injury can be physical, emotional, or a combination of the two. A personal injury arises when one person is hurt, disabled, or even killed as a result of the conduct or negligence of another, that’s when you need to call the Strom Law Personal Injury Lawyers.
In a split second, you may become the victim of a life altering accident, leaving you with mounting medical bills, unable to work and care for your family, and forcing to deal with the death of a loved one. If you are the victim of traumatic brain injury, paralysis, or other permanent injury you or a loved one may need lifelong medical care.
The South Carolina wrongful death lawyers at the Strom Law Firm understand how hard losing a loved one is. We believe those who contributed to your loved one’s death should be held responsible. If your loved one died because of another’s negligence, we can help you. Call us the Strom Law Firm today or fill out web form for a free evaluation. 803.252.4800.
