SEATTLE — A Superior Court judge has denied all motions filed by the city of Seattle in its request for a new trial in the $30.5 million that was awarded to the family of a teen killed in 2020.
On June 29, 2020, 16-year-old Antonio Mays Jr. was shot and killed inside the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) zone. His family sued the city for negligence, claiming that Mays could have survived his injuries if first responders were able to get to him.
In January, a King County jury ruled the city was negligent during its emergency response to the shooting inside the protest zone, and the city’s failures were a cause in Mays’ death.
In that ruling, a jury awarded $30.5M to Mays’ father and the teen’s estate.
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Last week, the city requested a new trial, arguing that there was at least a 90% chance that Mays was going to die from his wounds, regardless of any medical care.
The City of Seattle also argued the jury should have been instructed to divide the blame between the city and Mays’ shooter, who has yet to be identified.
On April 1, King County Superior Court Judge Sean P. O’Donnell denied all post-trial motions filed the city. The leaves intact the $30.5 million jury verdict from January.
In a statement, a lawyer for Mays’ estate said:
“This ruling confirms what twelve jurors already told the City of Seattle. When you abandon your duty to protect citizens, there are consequences. Judge O’Donnell considered every argument the City raised and found none of them sufficient. The verdict stands. Antonio Mays Jr.’s injuries were survivable. The City’s failure to act cost him his life. A jury said so. A judge has now confirmed it. We hope the City will accept responsibility and do the right thing.”
KIRO 7 has reached out to the city for comment on the judge’s decision.
MyNorthwest.com contributed to this article.