Updated 07/27/2010 08:23 PM
City Pays More Than $7 Million In Sean Bell Civil Suit Settlement
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The family of police shooting victim Sean Bell has settled a civil case against the city, and city officials will pay more than $7.1 million to the plaintiffs.
Bell was shot and killed by undercover police officers outside a nightclub in Jamaica, Queens in November 2006.
Two of his friends, Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield, were also shot.
Under the settlement, Bell's estate will receive $3.25 million.
Guzman will receive $3 million and Benefield will receive $900,000.
Bell's fiancee, Nicole Bell, says the settlement is fair but of little comfort.
"No amount of money can provide closure for losing Sean. There is no amount of money that can equal the pain that my family and his family Mr. and Mrs. Bell have felt," Bell said.
"It's a monetary settlement like I don't think a black or Hispanic man is worth much in New York City and it's a matter of time before this happens again," Guzman said.
Three officers were charged in the shooting but acquitted.
The federal government refused to bring civil rights charges against them.
The settled lawsuit accused the city of wrongful death, negligence and civil rights violations.
In a statement, City Corporation Counsel Michael Cardozo said, "The Sean Bell shooting highlighted the complexities our dedicated officers must face each day. The City regrets the loss of life in this tragic case, and we share our deepest condolences with the Bell family.... We hope that all parties can find some measure of closure by this settlement."