Protesters so far have filed a total of eight lawsuits claiming battery and unnecessary use of force against the city of Portland’s police since thousands started protesting the death of George Floyd over the past two weeks.
The protesters seek a total of $2.8 million from the city, saying they were peacefully expressing their rights when police injured them or sent them running in fear for their lives by indiscriminately using tear gas, rubber bullets or explosive devices. Almost all of the lawsuits ask judges to ban Portland police from using such crowd dispersal tactics.
City Attorney Tracy Reeve declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. The lawsuits were filed Friday through Tuesday.
Police have said they use such crowd-dispersal tools when peaceful gatherings have turned violent with protesters throwing or using sling shots to propel bricks, mortars, bottles of water, cans of beer and glass bottles or tried to climb or knock down a chain-link fence erected temporarily to protect the justice center.
-- Lydia Fuller filed a $250,000 suit, claiming Portland police “opened fire” on her “with military-style weapons including chemical weapons and explosive devices” on June 7. She was hit by a rubber bullet in the chest, causing bruising to one of her breasts and prompting her to go to the emergency room, according to her lawsuit.
“At no time during the protest did Ms. Fuller ever act physically aggressive toward anyone,” states the suit, filed Tuesday in Multnomah County Circuit Court.
Portland attorney Michael Fuller is representing Lydia Fuller, his cousin, along with five other plaintiffs.
-- Julia Leggett claims she was peacefully protesting June 5 when police shot a flash-bang grenade at her leg -- shredding her pants and causing painful bruising and wounds that have become infected. Leggett is studying for her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at Portland State University, states the suit filed Sunday. She seeks up to $450,000.
Julia Leggett's injuries. (Submitted photo)
-- Daniel Michaels claims he was picking up a friend from a peaceful protest on June 6 when police “intentionally launched projectiles into (his) leg, rear, and hand.” Michaels seeks up to $250,000 in his suit, filed Sunday.
-- Brandon Farley claims that officers “intentionally shot him in the knee with a rubber bullet” on June 4, prompting a visit to the hospital. He seeks up to $950,000 in his suit filed Saturday.
-- Mason Lake, a professional photographer, was struck on May 31 by a projectile in the arm, breaking his skin, causing swelling and loss of feeling, according to his $450,000 lawsuit filed Saturday.
“Mr. Lake believes he was specifically targeted by City of Portland police officers because he was a photographer documenting police brutality,” the suit states.
-- Philip Elias was struck June 2 in the arm and abdomen, “leaving rings of severe dark bruising on his body,” according to his $250,000 lawsuit filed Friday.
-- Andrew and Samira Green claim they were frightened for their lives after they went to a June 2 protest with their children, whose ages weren’t listed in their lawsuit. Their suit says they went because they are Muslim and believed they needed to support the Black Lives Matter community. Samira Green is black, wears a hijab and is pregnant, states the $200,000 lawsuit filed Monday.
After police announced the gathering was an unlawful assembly, the Greens started to leave but were trapped in a cloud of tear gas, causing them both to cough heavily and Samira Green to vomit.
-- Don’t Shoot Portland filed suit in federal court Friday against the city on behalf of two protesters, Nicholas Roberts and Michelle “Misha” Belden, who aren’t seeking a specific dollar amount but have asked a judge to prohibit police from using tear gas to control crowds.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Marco Hernandez issued a 14-day ban on the riot-control agent, except when lives are at risk.
- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee
Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.