MINNEAPOLIS — The city of Minneapolis has reached a $600,000 settlement in a lawsuit brought by a woman who claimed that former officer Derek Chauvin forcibly removed her from her vehicle and restrained her on the ground in January 2020, echoing his actions four months later in the fatal encounter with George Floyd.
The plaintiff, who was employed by the Public Works Department, alleged excessive use of force and wrongful arrest in a lawsuit filed in May. She admitted to being intoxicated on January 17, 2020, and facing personal challenges, including an impending divorce, when she became stuck in the snow for several hours.
Chauvin and his partner at the time, Officer Ellen Jensen, responded to the scene. According to the lawsuit, the officers “violently yanked” the woman from her minivan and forced her to the ground, resulting in multiple injuries.
The complaint details that Chauvin then positioned his knee into her back while she was handcuffed and subdued, mirroring the actions he later took during George Floyd’s fatal arrest. A subsequent charge of driving under the influence was dismissed when a judge determined the officers had no probable cause for the arrest and ruled the blood alcohol test evidence inadmissible.
The Minneapolis City Council approved the $600,000 settlement unanimously on Thursday, with $175,000 allocated to the plaintiff and $425,000 designated for attorney fees.
To date, the city has disbursed over $36 million in settlements related to police misconduct cases associated with Chauvin, including $27 million to the family of George Floyd.
“While no settlement can erase the trauma Patty faced, we are relieved to have reached an agreement that seeks accountability for the officers involved,” said the plaintiff’s attorney. “This case highlights the urgent need for reform and justice within law enforcement.”
Chauvin remains incarcerated following his convictions for the murder of Floyd and for violating Floyd’s civil rights. The incident has catalyzed a nationwide movement addressing systemic racial injustice.
