Although the terms of the deal weren’t immediately available, the Trump Organization agreed to a settlement arrangement with individuals who protested outside Trump Tower in 2015 and were physically assaulted by the Trump company’s security team.
The Daily Beast notes that litigation filed by the targeted individuals against the Trump Organization suffered delays while Trump was serving as president. Those involved were now trying to start a trial, but before signing the agreement, they’d yet to settle on a sufficiently impartial jury in court in The Bronx, which is a northern portion of New York City. As part of the trial, the Trump company evidently could’ve ended up compelled to provide financial compensation to the plaintiffs, and some level of financial recompense was presumably included in the settlement struck this week. The Trump company could be interested in focusing its legal concerns elsewhere, with a sweeping civil lawsuit from the New York state attorney general still moving forward. That official, Democrat Letitia James, alleges the company relied on deceptive statements of value for dozens of assets.
James is seeking the return of $250 million she tied to those disputed valuations, and she also wants Trump and his three most prominent adult children blocked from leading businesses in New York state. Trump recently failed in an effort at moving the case from before New York Judge Arthur Engoron. As for the protesters’ case, they were demonstrating against Trump’s then-newly announced presidential candidacy on a portion of public sidewalk near the Manhattan Trump property. The Trump Organization’s lawyers presented plaintiffs with their proposed settlement right in the middle of court proceedings this week meant to pick a jury, shortly after prospective jurors were dismissed for lunch. “The parties all agree that the plaintiffs in the action, and all people, have a right to engage in peaceful protest on public sidewalks,” a joint statement says. Benjamin Dictor, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said the case “has been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.”
Efrain Galicia, one of the protesters-turned-plaintiffs, was tackled during the 2015 confrontation, and he expressed support for the conclusion of the case reached this week. “Justice was done,” he said. Michael Cohen, the former “fixer” for the ex-president who has since turned against Trump and revealed a stream of potentially damaging details, said Trump personally directed the confrontation with the protesters in 2015. “Legal veterans had previously told the Guardian that Bronx juries often awarded giant verdicts when they rule in favor of a plaintiff,” that publication says — adding another potential Trump worry ahead of the settlement decision.
In New York, Trump is also facing the prospect of litigation that writer E. Jean Carroll said she would file after New York authorities reopened opportunities for victims of sexual misconduct to bring legal action if they’d otherwise be limited in their options by what are known as statutes of limitations. He was ordered to sit for a deposition in a defamation case Carroll also brought, although it’s unclear how that actually went last month. “We’re pleased that on behalf of our client, E. Jean Carroll, we were able to take Donald Trump’s deposition today,” Carroll’s defense said. “We are not able to comment further.”
