Jailed Child's Family Getting $221,000

[Brutuskend]

Jailed Child's Family Getting $221,000
By Associated Press
Fri Apr 14, 9:52 AM

ESPANOLA, N.M. - The family of a third-grader who was handcuffed and jailed after misbehaving at school will receive $221,000 from the city and its insurer to settle a lawsuit.

Jerry Trujillo, then 8, was sent the school counselor's office after he hit another child with a basketball in August 2004, his mother said. The juvenile citation for disorderly conduct said Jerry then "got out of control and refused to go back to class."

After police were summoned, Jerry was booked into the city jail, dressed in an orange jumpsuit and placed in a holding cell while adult inmates in a nearby cell taunted him, according to the lawsuit. He was released to his parents a half hour later.

The family's attorney, Sheri Raphaelson, said her clients were relieved Jerry would not have to testify. A jury already had been chosen to hear the federal civil rights lawsuit, but both sides filed a motion to dismiss the case on Monday.

The family will receive $85,000 initially, and the remainder of the settlement is to be paid over several years for Jerry's education and college fund. He now attends a private school.

The lawsuit named the police chief, school officials and others. The school district settled last October for $6,000 without admitting liability.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

[laurenlex]

So much for the parents paying him for behaving at school.

 

[blurredvision]

Well, if they jailed a 3-year-old like they would an adult, I'd have to say I agree with the settlement, especially since it includes private school and college tuition. A child has no business in a jail cell, orange jump suit and all, with adult inmates nearby.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

wtf? Usually I am a big supporter of punishing little brats the same way as I'd punish a criminal adult, but since when is hitting someone with a basketball against the law? Then again, the case is from New Mexico...

 

[Goosemaster]

LOL....dumbasses

 

[OutHouse]

my daughter is a third grader and if the law did something like that to her for a petty offense i would sue as well. the only time you get the governments attention is to hit them in the pocket book, and in this case i would have done just that.

booking a 8 year old, please didnt anybody say "ummm maybe this isnt a good idea?"

 

[Turkish]

frickin idiots. who puts an 8 year old in jail?

 

[BigJ]

This all would've never happened if the parents of children today weren't so god damn sue happy. If the school was allowed to restrain him (whether it's locking him in a room for a bit until he cools down, or whatever), the police would've never been involved.

The police in this case fvcked up BIG TIME.