Minneapolis to Pay $600,000 to Settle Claim from Woman Allegeing Former Officer Chauvin Kneeling on Her Back

MINNEAPOLIS—The city of Minneapolis has consented to a $600,000 settlement regarding a lawsuit filed by a woman who claimed that former Officer Derek Chauvin forcibly removed her from her minivan and restrained her on the ground with his knee in January 2020, mirroring his actions four months later when he fatally injured George Floyd.

Patty Day, who used to work in the Public Works Department, asserted in a lawsuit she filed last May that she experienced excessive force and an unlawful arrest. She admitted to being intoxicated on the night of January 17, 2020, as well as feeling despondent over her impending divorce and other personal issues while she was trapped in the snow for several hours.

Chauvin and his partner that evening, Officer Ellen Jensen, eventually responded to the scene. The lawsuit contended that the officers “violently pulled” Day from her vehicle and slammed her onto the pavement, resulting in multiple injuries.

“Chauvin then took his well-known stance, pressing his knee into the restrained and handcuffed Patty’s back — similar to the manner in which he later choked George Floyd — remaining in that position long after Patty was subdued,” the complaint claimed. A driving under the influence charge was dismissed later when a judge determined that the officers did not have probable cause to arrest her and barred the blood alcohol test results as evidence.

The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved the $600,000 settlement on Thursday. Council member LaTrisha Vetaw informed her colleagues that Day will receive $175,000, while her attorneys will be awarded $425,000.

The city has now settled police misconduct cases involving Chauvin for over $36 million, which includes $27 million to George Floyd’s family.

“While no settlement can erase the trauma Patty suffered, we are thankful to have come to an agreement that holds the officers accountable for their actions,” said Day’s attorney, Katie Bennett, in a statement. “This case highlights the urgent need for justice and reform within law enforcement.”

Chauvin, who is white, remains imprisoned at a federal facility in Texas following his conviction in state court for the murder of Floyd and a federal conviction for violating Floyd’s civil rights. The murder of the Black man ignited a national dialogue regarding racial injustice.

By Steve Karnowski