Federal lawsuits: Jayland Walker protesters reach settlement, Akron Bail Fund could be next
A federal lawsuit filed in the aftermath of the protests that followed Jayland Walker's fatal shooting in 2022 has been settled, and another is on the verge of settling.
A case filed by two protesters arrested by two University of Akron police officers reached a settlement this week, said their attorney, Elizabeth Bonham. This comes months after the city of Akron agreed to pay the 24 other plaintiffs — all who were arrested during Walker protests — a total of $747,000 in February.
The University of Akron said Friday it is paying $20,000 to settle the suit involving its officers.
UA "maintains that neither officer did anything wrong, therefore no action will be taken," a university spokesperson said.
The university "elected to resolve the matter because the cost to litigate the case through trial would have far exceeded the settlement amount," the UA spokesperson said.
Bonham said all 26 plaintiffs who sued for damages over their arrests have now settled.
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Following the settlement, Bonham and Andrew Zellers, representing the UA officers, filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on Thursday, according to court documents.
The city of Akron and the University of Akron were not immediately available for comment.
Police reform is goal of Akron Bail Fund proposed settlement
A settlement could come as soon as next week in a separate lawsuit filed by the Akron Bail Fund, Bonham said.
That lawsuit — the final unsettled suit related to the protests — alleges the city used tear gas, pepper spray and other types of force against nonviolent protesters during a protest April 19, 2023, in the Copley Road area.
Injunctive police reform is likely the focus of the bail fund's settlement, Bonham told the Akron Beacon Journal in April.
Settlement part one: Akron reaches settlement with protesters arrested during Jayland Walker demonstrations
Bonham met virtually Thursday with city of Akron attorneys Brian Bremer and John Reese to discuss the Northern District of Ohio case. Both parties reach an "agreement in principle" during the five-minute meeting; they have 45 days to finalize the settlement and file a motion to dismiss.
This tentative agreement, of which no concrete details are listed in court documents, came one week before the second anniversary of Walker's death.
U.S. District Court Judge James Gwin in Cleveland is assigned to both cases.
The City of Akron and Bonham declined to comment on the case because the settlement is not finalized and details are still being discussed.
Protests followed Walker's shooting and grand jury decision
Eight Akron police officers shot Walker 46 times on June 27, 2022, after he fled from police by car and then on foot. While in the car, he fired a gun from his window but was unarmed when fleeing on foot.
Following his death, protests rocked the city. More than 50 people were arrested over the Fourth of July weekend. Police deployed tear gas and pepper spray to disperse crowds.
On April 17, 2023, a special Summit County Common Pleas Court grand jury did not indict the eight officers who shot Walker.
Walker family's federal lawsuit remains
A federal lawsuit filed by Walker's family against the city of Akron and the Akron Police Department could be the final pending lawsuit.
No mediation hearings have been held in the case as recent court filings show it could head to trial.
Discovery and motion deadlines were scheduled in early May by U.S. District Court Judge John Adams.
Fact discovery is due by Aug. 31. Expert witnesses are due by Oct. 20 for Walker's family while the city has until Dec. 5. Depositions by those witnesses are due by Jan. 6, 2025, according to court documents. All dispositive motions are to be filed by Feb. 15, 2025.
Bryce Buyakie covers courts and public safety for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @bryce_buyakie.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jayland Walker protesters reach settlement, Akron Bail Fund could be next
