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Abner Louima Receives Settlement of $9 Million

Aired July 11, 2001 - 11:52   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: We're seeing reports now from the Associated Press that a large settlement has been reached in that civil rights lawsuit filed by a Haitian immigrant who was tortured in a police station in New York City a number of years ago; $9 million is the settlement being quoted by the AP, although lawyers for the city and for the police are not talking.

Neither are lawyers for Abner Louima, the defendant or actually the person who was victimized by that alleged torture, who is suing the city.

Initially, he sought $155 million in a suit he claimed he filed in 1998, claiming officers at Brooklyn's 70th Precinct conspired to create a blue wall of silence and lies to obstruct justice. This, after he was taken into a bathroom and abused by five officers. There were three lawsuits in total. Two of the officers were convicted. Four others were convicted about lying to authorities about what happened.

Again, what we're hearing is that there's been a $9 million settlement from the city of New York and the Police Benevolent Association, to be paid to Haitian immigrant, Abner Louima for the torture. We will be following this story all day and will bring you more details as they arrive here.

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