April 10, 2009 - The city of Minneapolis has settled a racial discrimination lawsuit with five African American police officers for $740,000. The five officers filed the suit in 2007, claiming they were denied advancement and unfairly disciplined because of their race. City officials say the settlement doesn't admit to any wrongdoing by the police department.
April 10, 2009 - Attorneys for five black Minneapolis police officers say they're pleased with the $740,000 discrimination suit settlement they reached with the city. The offer was approved by the Minneapolis city council this afternoon. In the complaint the officers alleged that they were unfairly disciplined and denied promotions because of their skin color. Attorney for the plaintiffs John Klassen says a lot of work still needs to be done, but the lawsuit has lead to improvements in race relations in the department.
April 10, 2009 - The Minneapolis city council approved a settlement agreement between the city and five black police officers who had sued for racial discrimination.
April 11, 2009 - Attorneys for five black Minneapolis police officers say they're pleased with the $740,000 discrimination suit settlement they reached with the city. The offer was approved by the Minneapolis city council this afternoon. In the complaint the officers alleged that they were unfairly disciplined and denied promotions because of their skin color. Attorney for the plaintiffs John Klassen says a lot of work still needs to be done, but the lawsuit has lead to improvements in race relations in the department.
April 15, 2009 - Attorneys representing the family of Fong Lee continue to say that Minneapolis police officers planted a gun next to Lee's body - a gun that had been in police custody - even though Minneapolis officials say that's not what happened. 19-year-old Fong Lee was shot by an officer in 2006. Last week the city filed documents containing testimony from police employees who say the gun found next to Lee's body, was never in police custody. So the city attorney concludes the gun could NOT have been planted. However, Lee family attorney Rich Hechter says the main point of their case is to show that Lee's shooting was unjustified because he was unarmed.
April 15, 2009 - Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan says he's upset by allegations made in the Fong Lee shooting case and is breaking with past practices by speaking out in his department's defense. Dolan accuses the lawyers representing Lee's family of trying the case in the media and says it may not even make it to trial next month. Lee's family is suing the police department because they say Lee was unarmed when officer Jason Andersen shot and killed him in 2006. They also charge that officers planted a gun near the 19-year-old's body to justify the shooting. Dolan says those charges are very serious. And they are also false.
April 28, 2009 - Today, lawyers for the family of Fong Lee filed their justification for wanting non-public Grand Jury testimony entered into their lawsuit. The family is suing the city and the Minneapolis police officer who killed 19-year-old Fong Lee in 2006.
May 6, 2009 - Today, a federal magistrate told the attorneys for the family of Fong Lee that if they want grand jury transcripts entered into their case, they'll first have to ask another court.
May 6, 2009 - This morning, a pretrial hearing brings together lawyers for the family of Fong Lee and the Hennepin County Attorney's office.
May 7, 2009 - Lawyers for Fong Lee's family say today, their wrongful death lawsuit will go ahead, but admit disappointment at a court ruling. Yesterday a federal court judge dismissed charges against the city of Minneapolis. The judge also dropped one of the charges against the officer who shot and killed Lee in 2006.