The Ohio Supreme Court ordered East Cleveland to pay over $30 million to Arnold Black, who won a jury verdict against the city for wrongful detention and injuries caused by police officers. The court granted a writ of mandamus to Black, affirming the city's duty to fulfill the judgment, as Black had no other legal means to enforce it under state law.
In April 2012, Black was arrested during a traffic stop by East Cleveland police officers. After denying knowledge of drug dealers, he was beaten, detained for four days in a storage room without basic amenities, and released with visible injuries. Black sued Police Chief Ralph Scotts, Detective Randy Hicks, and the city, resulting in an August 2019 jury verdict awarding him $20 million in compensatory damages, $5 million in prejudgment interest, and $15 million in punitive damages from Scotts and Hicks. The verdict was upheld by an appeals court, and both state and U.S. Supreme Courts denied further review.
In October 2021, Black's attorney sought to enforce the judgment, but the city did not respond, prompting Black to file for the writ in February 2023, seeking the original $20 million judgment plus nearly $10.5 million in interest. The court's opinion confirmed Black's entitlement to the judgment, citing clear evidence of the jury's decision, trial court's order, and appeals court affirmation.
The city argued that a trial motion to enforce a damages cap created a dispute over the owed amount, but the justices rejected this, finding Black provided sufficient evidence of the exact amount due, including jury interrogatories, verdicts, and court judgments.
The court ordered the city to satisfy the judgment, including prejudgment and post-judgment interest, and to appropriate funds if necessary. Black's attorney, Robert F. DiCello, emphasized the decision's significance in Black's long struggle for justice. City representatives were unavailable for comment.
Black is represented by Robert F. DiCello and Justin J. Hawal of DiCello Levitt LLP, while East Cleveland is represented by Benjamin J. Reeb and Jeffry D. Harris of Bricker Graydon LLP. The case is The State ex rel. Black v. The City of East Cleveland, case number 2023-0244, in the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Link: Law360
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