Attorney: Miles Family Rejects City's Settlement Offer

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The City of Pittsburgh has offered a settlement to Jordan Miles.

"This case is about more than money," says Miles family attorney J. Kerrington Lewis. "This case is about the policies in place that we believe have to be changed."

An offer has been made to the Miles family that, if accepted, would end a civil rights suit filed against the city and three plainclothes police officers who allegedly beat Miles in January of 2010.

"They have offered a proposed judgment of $180,000," Lewis said.

The family rejected the offer.

Jordan Miles accuses officers Richard Ewing, Michael Saldutte and David Sisak of chasing, arresting and beating him as he walked to his grandmother's house in Homewood.

The officers contend that Miles ran from them and appeared to be armed.

The offer made by the city remains on the table for only two weeks. The offer also calls into play a federal rule applied to such cases.

"And if our verdict does not exceed $180,000, then we would not be entitled to counsel fees as awarded by the government," Lewis said.

In May, the U.S. Attorney declined to prosecute a criminal civil rights case against the officers citing insufficient evidence.

"I think the government had a case," Lewis said. "They should have presented it. They should let a jury hear it. They didn't want to go forward, but we do."

City Solicitor Daniel Regan confirms that an offer was made, but would not elaborate.

Jordan Miles has just successfully completed his freshman year at Penn State.

If there is no settlement, a trial is not likely before September.

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