Student settles suit over mistaken beer purchase

[Mr. Television]

http://news.yahoo.com/student-settle...164011396.html


Student settles suit over mistaken beer purchase
Associated Press
2 hours ago

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A college student who says she fled in terror when undercover officers who thought she had illegally bought beer swarmed her SUV has reached a $212,500 settlement with the state of Virginia.

Attorney General Mark R. Herring announced the settlement Wednesday night with Elizabeth Daly, who had filed a $40 million federal lawsuit against agents with the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The lawsuit said Daly had bought a carton of sparkling water at a supermarket in April 2013, which the agents mistook for beer. She said that the badges around the agents' necks were not clearly visible, and that the agents did not identify themselves as officers.

The agents banged on the sport utility vehicle and demanded that she open the window and not start the engine. One tried to break the window with a flashlight, and after another officer pulled a gun, one of Daly's two passengers shouted that the badges were fake and implored the driver to "go, go, go," according to the lawsuit.

Daly was charged with eluding police and assaulting a police officer after her SUV grazed two of the agents. The arrest provoked a public outcry, and the charges were dropped.

Herring said the settlement was not an admission of wrongdoing by any of the parties in the lawsuit.

"My goal throughout this case has been to reach a resolution that is just and fair for all parties, including Ms. Daly, the ABC and its agents, and the Commonwealth and its taxpayers," Herring said. "After careful consideration of the potentially significant costs of taking this case to trial, I believe we have reached such an outcome."

Daly's attorney, James B. Thorsen, didn't immediately return a telephone message left at his Richmond office Thursday morning.

[robyrob]

if any one of those agents are still employed in any capacity by the state, then whoever is in charge of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control should lose their job too - those idiots are a danger to the public.

[Janice]

Just crazy. It was handled poorly even IF she was buying beer. I can relate as I had a similar experience many years ago. I was driving one night and noticed a police car following me for quite a distance. I knew I had nothing to hide, but it's still a scary feeling.

I came to an intersection, and two other police cars appeared, boxing me in. Next thing I know, I'm getting screamed at to get out of the car. One cop had a gun pointed at me. I was terrified. What had happened was that my car was stolen the month before and recovered. The cops still had listed as stolen in their system. Once I proved that I was the owner of the car, I was allowed to leave, without so much as an apology.

I was only 22, and it was a traumatic experience. Looking back, I should of filed suit against them for being so aggressive. Seemed like overkill even if the car was stolen. Why not just pull me over? Most cops are cool, but some of them are on power trips. Sorry for the hijack, just couldn't help it.

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by robyrob

if any one of those agents are still employed in any capacity by the state, then whoever is in charge of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control should lose their job too - those idiots are a danger to the public.

Im sure they are........ COPS TREAT PPL LIKE CRAP AND GET AWAY WITH IT EVERYDAY!!!!

[Family Ties Forever!]

That's terrible.

Originally Posted by Janice

Just crazy. It was handled poorly even IF she was buying beer. I can relate as I had a similar experience many years ago. I was driving one night and noticed a police car following me for quite a distance. I knew I had nothing to hide, but it's still a scary feeling.

I came to an intersection, and two other police cars appeared, boxing me in. Next thing I know, I'm getting screamed at to get out of the car. One cop had a gun pointed at me. I was terrified. What had happened was that my car was stolen the month before and recovered. The cops still had listed as stolen in their system. Once I proved that I was the owner of the car, I was allowed to leave, without so much as an apology.

I was only 22, and it was a traumatic experience. Looking back, I should of filed suit against them for being so aggressive. Seemed like overkill even if the car was stolen. Why not just pull me over? Most cops are cool, but some of them are on power trips. Sorry for the hijack, just couldn't help it.

That sounds so scary. I'm sorry you had to go through that. The cops definitely overreacted. Shame on those cops. I would be traumatized.