Sponsor: Board of Commissioners
Title
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Settlement Agreement in Venedia Larita Campbell and Martin Alan Smith, II v. Ramsey County et al. (Court File No. 24-CV-00913)
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Recommendation
recommendation
1. Approve the settlement agreement with Venedia Larita Campbell and Martin Alan Smith, II v. Ramsey County et al. (Court File No. 24-CV-00913), totaling $35,000.
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the settlement agreement.
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Background and Rationale
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On May 20, 2022, Ramsey County deputy sheriffs responded to a request for assistance call from Minneapolis police officers to assist in investigating an area around a parking lot in St. Paul in which a stolen car was parked. The car belonged to a victim who was shot in Minneapolis and was robbed of the car, his cell phone, and a lawnmower. The investigation in the area around the parking lot led all law enforcement officers on the scene to believe that the perpetrators of the shooting and robbery in Minneapolis were inside of Plaintiffs’ home, which was on the same block as the parking lot. Officers then surrounded Plaintiffs’ home and ordered them to exit; Plaintiffs complied with the command. The officers then obtained a search warrant of the home and executed it based on the observations of both Minneapolis police officers and Ramsey County deputy sheriffs on the scene. The Plaintiffs were exonerated of any crime after a short investigation.
Plaintiffs sued Ramsey County and Ramsey County Deputy Sheriff Andrew William Schroeder and the City of Minneapolis and several of its police officers, alleging that the defendants violated their rights against unlawful search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment by fabricating the basis of the search warrant of their home.
The parties reached an agreement during settlement negotiations, subject to board approval. The board approved the settlement in a closed session on December 3, 2024.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☐ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☐ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
There is no racial equity impact associated with this request for board action.
Community Participation Level and Impact
There is no community engagement associated with this request for board action.
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Ramsey County is self-insured, and the settlement agreement will be paid out of the county’s tort liability fund.
Last Previous Action
On December 3, 2024, the Ramsey County Board met in a closed session to receive advice from and provide direction to the County Attorney’s Office (Resolution B2024-261).
Attachments
1. Settlement Agreement