City Settles Randy Cox Case, Man Paralyzed In Cop Custody, For $45M

NEW HAVEN, CT – Friday, in the civil case Richard Cox v. City of New Haven, all parties participated in a settlement conference with Magistrate Judge Maria Garcia of the U.S. District Court in New Haven, Mayor Justin Elicker said.

"With Judge Garcia's assistance the parties were able to agree upon a settlement of $45 million dollars to resolve all claims against the City of New Haven," a release from the Mayor's office reads. Of the $45 million, $30 million of the total settlement will be covered by the city’s insurance, and the remainder will be paid by the city.

“What happened to Randy Cox was unacceptable. When an individual enters police custody, there is an obligation to treat them with dignity and respect and in a manner that ensures their safety and well-being," Elicker said. "That did not happen with Randy: he entered policy custody being able to walk, and he left police custody paralyzed with his life and his health forever altered.

Cox's attorneys, Civil Rights lawyer Ben Crump, and his local attorney's Louis Rubano and R.J. Weber released this statement:

“This historic settlement reflects the commitment of New Haven leadership to fully value Randy Cox’s life and support him through the difficult journey ahead. The city’s mistakes have been well documented. But today is a moment to look to the future, so New Haven residents can have confidence in their city and their police department. As the largest settlement in a police misconduct case in our nation’s history, this settlement sends a message to the country that we know we must be better than this."

Cox, 36, of New Haven, was arrested June 19, 2022 at a Juneteenth block party for allegedly carrying a weapon and other charges. While handcuffed in a seatbeltless police van en route to the police department's detention center, he suffered a serious head injury that resulted in a broken neck. Officer Oscar Diaz, driving at around 36 MPH in a 25 MPH zone, stopped short to avoid a crash, which sent Cox flying, slamming head first into the van wall.

A series of "disturbing" and graphic videos from police body-worn cameras, and other video footage, show that police officers ignored Cox's cries that he believed his neck was broken, paralyzing him. The jail officers then violently manhandled Cox, as clearly seen on video, as they processed him on charges, and then dragged his body into a holding cell.

At one point in the video of the incident, Cox can be heard, softly asking for help."Help me. I don't want to die like this."

This video contains graphic content.

Cox sued the city for $100 million.

"Today’s settlement agreement is an important and sobering part of this accountability process. While nothing can ever return Randy’s life to the way it was prior to this incident, we trust that this settlement will allow him to receive the support and medical care he needs to move forward," Elicker said. "The City of New Haven will continue to do everything we can to assist him in his journey.I want to thank Randy and his family for their patience as we worked through this process. We remain resolved as a city to collectively work to ensure an incident like this never happens again.”

He said the "actions of these few officers do not reflect the values of the New Haven Police Department and do not represent the high standards that I know the rest of our police officers hold themselves to everyday as they put their lives on the line to protect and serve our residents and keep our community safe."

Crump, Rubino and Weber noted in their statement that, "This settlement makes a strong statement that police departments and their municipalities will be accountable for ensuring that police officers honor the lives of those they are sworn to serve and protect.”

New Haven police Sgt. Betsy Segui, 40, officer Oscar Diaz, 54, officer Ronald Pressley, 56, officer Jocelyn Lavandier, 35, and officer Luis Rivera, 40, were all charged with second-degree reckless endangerment and cruelty to persons, by state police.

This week, the Board of Police Commissioners voted to act on Police Chief Karl Jacobson's recommendation to fire all four. Two were fired at the meeting; Lavandier and Rivera. Segui and Diaz will meet with the board in the near future.

Crump noted that the "action by the New Haven Board of Police Commissioners to terminate the two officers involved in the arrest that resulted in Randy Cox’s paralysis reflected a commitment to accountability and justice."

Elicker pointed to police reforms in the wake of the "tragedy."

"From day one, Police Chief Jacobson and I have promised accountability, transparency and action for Randy, the Cox family and the New Haven community -- and we committed to do everything in our power to ensure an incident like this never happens again," Elicker said.

Warning: graphic content

"Since this tragic incident occurred, the New Haven Police Department has instituted a comprehensive set of reforms, updated its policies and procedures on the transfer of people in custody, and required department wide training on duty to intervene," he noted. "The officers involved are being held accountable by the police department and in court.

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Read more about the Richard "Randy" Cox case from Patch

• 'Disturbing' Videos Emerge After Man Paralyzed In Police Custody: PD
• 3 More Cops On Leave As State Investigates Man Paralyzed In PD Custody
• Civil Rights Lawyer Crump To Represent Man Paralyzed In PD Custody
• Paralyzed In Paddy Wagon, Randy Cox Sues City, 5 Officers For $100M
• Freddie Gray Invoked By Lawyer For Man Paralyzed In Cop Transport Van
• After Alders Unanimous OK, Jacobson Sworn In As New Haven's Top Cop
• Tamika Mallory Joins Friday March For Justice For Richard "Randy" Cox
• Justice Department Keeping Eye On Randy Cox Case, Says US Attorney
• Cops Involved In Randy Cox Case Charged By State Police After Probe
• After Internal Probe, Chief Recommends Firing Of 4 Cops In Cox Case