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.
May 7, 2009 - Last night a U.S. District Court Judge threw out nearly all the charges filed by the family of Fong Lee against the city of Minneapolis and officer Jason Andersen. Andersen shot and killed Lee in 2006. But the judge's ruling does NOT dismiss claims of a police cover-up.
May 7, 2009 - Attorneys representing the family of Fong Lee say they're disappointed that a federal judge dropped the city as a defendent in their wrongful death lawsuit. The judge also threw out one of the charges against the officer who shot and killed Lee in 2006. But the attorneys say that doesn't change the main thrust of their case. Lee family attorney Rich Hechter says the evidence will show that Lee was unarmed and that officer Jason Andersen acted unlawfully.
May 7, 2009 - A federal court judge has dismissed charges against the city of Minneapolis in the Fong Lee wrongful death lawsuit. But Lee family attorneys say the core of the lawsuit is still intact. They believe that officer Jason Andersen violated Lee's rights and committed assault and battery when the officer shot and killed Lee in 2006. A grand jury cleared Andersen of wrongdoing in 2007. Attorney John Klassen is not affiliated with the Lee case. But he has sued the city before. He says the Lee family still has a chip to bargain with in upcoming settlement talks.