Eric Garner's family reaches $5.9m settlement with NYC following his chokehold death in 2014 arrest
- Eric Garner's death sparked protests around the country by people outraged over police treatment of African-Americans
- New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer said on Monday the settlement with Garner's family was 'in the best interest of all parties'
The family of a Eric Garner, a black man who died after being placed in a white police officer's chokehold reached a $5.9 million settlement with the city on Monday, days before the anniversary of his death.
Garner's family in October filed a notice of claim, the first step in filing a lawsuit against the city, asking for $75 million.
Garner, who was 43, was stopped last July 17 outside a Staten Island convenience store because police officers believed he was selling loose, untaxed cigarettes.
Scroll down for video
A video shot by an onlooker shows Garner telling the officers to leave him alone and refusing to be handcuffed. Officer Daniel Pantaleo placed his arm around Garner's neck to take him down. Garner, who had asthma, is heard gasping 'I can't breathe!' 11 times before losing consciousness
Garner's death sparked demonstrations and became a flashpoint in a national debate about relations between police and minority communities
A video shot by an onlooker shows Garner telling the officers to leave him alone and refusing to be handcuffed.
Officer Daniel Pantaleo placed his arm around Garner's neck to take him down. Garner, who had asthma, is heard gasping 'I can't breathe!' 11 times before losing consciousness.
He was pronounced dead later at a hospital.
The city medical examiner found the police chokehold contributed to Garner's death.
But a grand jury declined to indict the officer in the death.
A federal probe is ongoing.
Chokeholds are banned by New York Police Department policy.
Pantaleo says he used a legal takedown maneuver known as a seatbelt, not a chokehold.
Garner's death sparked demonstrations and became a flashpoint in a national debate about relations between police and minority communities.
While the city has a legal department that fields lawsuits, the comptroller's office also can settle claims.
Esaw Garner, wife of Eric Garner, joins protesters demanding further action against the police officers responsible in the death of Eric Garner outside the federal court house on May 29, in Brooklyn
Candles are seen at the memorial of Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York in a July 21, 2014 file photo
Protesters, demand justice for Eric Garner during a march on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York in December 2014
Comptroller Scott Stringer has made a point of doing that in civil rights cases, saying that resolving them quickly saves the city money on legal fees.
'Following a judicious review of the claim and facts of this case, my office was able to reach a settlement with the estate of Eric Garner that is in the best interests of all parties,' Stringer said.
The city did not admit any liability.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said that hopefully Garner's family 'can find some peace and finality' from the settlement.
'By reaching a resolution, family and other loved ones can move forward even though we know they will never forget this tragic incident,' said de Blasio, who was scheduled to speak Tuesday at a church memorial service in Garner's honor.
Longtime civil rights attorney Jonathan Moore, the family's lawyer, said there also was a settlement with the Richmond University Medical Center, which responded to the scene.
That settlement is confidential, and there was no one available at the hospital to comment.
Moore said there would be a press conference Tuesday with the Rev. Al Sharpton and the family.
Sharpton said the settlement to the family was deserved but didn't resolve the larger questions around policing and minorities.
He said a rally planned for Saturday calling for an expedited federal investigation into Garner's death would go on as planned.
'We did not march and build a movement just to get money,' he said.
The city has reached settlements in other high-profile cases involving deaths of black men at the hands police officers.
In 2004, the city agreed to pay $3 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of Amadou Diallo, who was shot by four police officers in 1999.
In 2010, the city agreed to pay $3.25 million to the estate of Sean Bell, who was killed in 2006 outside a strip club while leaving his bachelor party.
Police had targeted the club for an undercover operation.
In January, the city settled with the family of teenager Ramarley Graham, who was shot by a police officer in 2012, for $3.9 million.
Last month, the comptroller's office agreed to pay $6.25 million to a man who spent nearly 25 years in prison before being exonerated in a killing that happened while he was more than 1,000 miles away vacationing at Disney World.
A $6.4 million settlement was reached with a man exonerated in the 1990 killing of a rabbi.
Stringer also agreed to a $2.25 million payout to the family of a mentally ill inmate who died in a Rikers Island jail cell that sweltered to 101 degrees because of a malfunctioning heating system, and he helped put together a $17 million settlement in the case of three half-brothers who spent a combined 60 years in prison before their convictions were thrown out.
- Mysterious tent erected outside Bobbi Kristina's hospice
- Singer's hygiene pad falls from between her legs on live TV
- Violent road rage attack against motorcyclist escalates fast
- Pat Houston makes late night visit to Bobbi Kristina in...
- Smoke billows from Egyptian Mediterranean patrol ship hit by...
- Man invents drone that has the ability to fire a handgun
- Shocking moment child no older than 12 executes ISIS captive
- Surveillance footage shows moment of El Chapo's escape
- Could this be the greatest wedding toast of all time?
- Bobbi Kristina with partner Nick Gordon back in 2012
- Cop knocks out handcuffed woman's teeth in hospital
- Video reveals El Chapo's motorbike on rails and escape...
- EXCLUSIVE: Family members gather and wipe tears from their...
- 'This life is short and bitter': How Chattanooga gunman...
- REVEALED: Caitlyn Jenner's reps 'demanded ESPYs award in...
- Terror on the high seas: Egyptian navy vessel erupts in huge...
- EXCLUSIVE: Father of girl having Louis Tomlinson's baby says...
- ISIS film a CHILD carrying out a beheading for the first...
- The beauty queen wife of El Chapo and the OTHER beasts in...
- Grandpa's day out! Bill Clinton plays in the park with...
- Caitlyn Jenner's ESPY Courage Award win is SLAMMED by victim...
- It's just another day in the office for Prince William and...
- EXCLUSIVE: Holly Madison was a 'weirdo' who had such a...
- Road rage driver is put in his place when victim fights...