HUNTSVILLE — A resolution authorizing the city attorney to settle a lawsuit filed following a 2021 incident involving police was passed Thursday night at the regular meeting of the Huntsville City Council.
The council went into executive session to discuss the matter before voting to approve the move. The cost to settle the lawsuit brought by family representatives of Jeffrey Burton is $600,000.
The federal lawsuit was filed by Burton’s co-guardians — his brother, Xavier Burton, and Douglas C. Martinson II.
The lawsuit claimed Burton was was injured because of “unconstitutional violence” during a confrontation with police officers. Following a police department review of the incident at the time, one officer was suspended without pay for two weeks and another was reprimanded.
“Both received additional training,” Council President David Little told 256 Today after the meeting. “It was handled internally after the review, and the family brought the lawsuit after that.”
Little said the group moved into executive session to view body camera footage from the incident and to hear from outside counsel. Afterward, the resolution was passed.
The city, which admitted no wrongdoing in settling the lawsuit, released a statement saying, “At a recent mediation, the City agreed to fully settle all claims in this case subject to formal approval by the Huntsville City Council. There is no admission of liability by any party in connection with this proposed resolution. Once the settlement is approved and otherwise finalized, the entire case will be dismissed with prejudice.
“Regardless, the behavior at the center of this dispute was unacceptable to the Huntsville Police Department. The incident was reviewed by Internal Affairs, actions were found to be out of policy, officers were disciplined, and additional training provided.”
According to the lawsuit, Burton, who is Black and was 35 at the time but had the mental capacity of a 6-year-old. The complaint says he was prone to wandering and had wandered to an apartment complex about half a mile from his home the night he encountered police.
A security officer at the complex alerted police to an intruder displaying unusual behavior. The complaint says Nicholas Light and another officer, only identified as Officer A, exited their car with weapons drawn and proceeded to shock Burton multiple times with stun guns, force him to the ground, pull his pants down and handcuff him behind his back. Burton suffered a cut on the back of his head, after being taken down by the officers, among other injuries, the complaint alleges. Burton was not combative with officers, the lawsuit argues.
At the time of the incident, it was reported that paramedics arrived and Burton was taken to Huntsville Hospital. The filing added he was still handcuffed as he entered the hospital. The lawsuit stated that as the hospital intake process continued, Light told Jeffrey, “If you try to get up again I’m going to throw you on the ground.” Then Light told Jeffrey, “You’re about to make me mad.” The next time Jeffrey attempted to stand up, Light swept Jeffrey’s legs out from under him, pushed him face-first into the hospital’s tile floor, and told Jeffrey, “I told you not to get up.”
The complaint stated Light and Officer A told their superiors Burton had admitted to “being high on meth for five days.” The complaint says that alleged admission is a sentence Burton is not mentally capable of forming.
No drugs were found in Burton’s system during a drug screen, the lawsuit claimed.
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