In August of 2022, 20 year old Derrick Uh died of a heatstroke when he was left locked in a police van. The Cristo Rey resident had been detained in the early morning, and then police forgot about him in the police van until 13 hours later. When they finally went to check on him, Uh was long dead.
It was one of the grossest cases of police neglect we've ever reported on. The Commissioner agreed and a number of cops were charged with manslaughter.
But, while there can be no argument that the police are culpable for his death - the family's attorney says government has made no attempt to settle the matter.
And so, the news tonight is that his family has been forced to file suit against the government. Their attorney Dean Barrow today confirmed that he has made the filing in court. He said he only did this after he wrote to the government more than twice urging them to enter discussions about a settlement. He says the government never responded even to an invitation to talk. They also gave the government one month's notice of suit - and, again, no reaction.
Barrow lamented that now, the Uk family will be put through the difficulty of enduring a trial. Barrow plans to argue that the government denied Uh his most fundamental constitutional right, the right to life.
