Jury: Oakland councilwoman must pay $550,000 in punitive damages to former Black Panther leader
OAKLAND — An Alameda County jury Monday found that Oakland Councilwoman Desley Brooks must pay $550,000 in punitive damages to former Black Panther leader Elaine Brown.
The same jury in December awarded Brown $3.75 million in a civil lawsuit she filed against the city of Oakland and Brooks, claiming the councilwoman injured her during an alleged assault on Oct. 30, 2015 at Everett and Jones Barbeque. Brooks, 56, shoved Brown, 74, causing her to fall and injure her rotator cuff.
Jurors found Brown — 72 at the time of the incident — was the victim of elder abuse and battery and unanimously agreed Brooks was working within the scope of employment as a city employee. While the award in the December verdict applies to the city of Oakland, the jury’s decision on Monday will come out of Brooks’ own pocket.
Jurors deliberated for one hour and 20 minutes before the damages amount of $550,000 was read aloud in Alameda County Superior Court Judge Paul Herbert’s courtroom. Brooks, who has represented East Oakland since 2002, was not present.
Read more: https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2018/01/08/jury-to-decide-if-oakland-councilwoman-should-pay-punitive-damages-to-former-black-panther-leader/