Jury awards $23.1 million to Fla. man shot by cop

The six-woman, two-man jury ruled Wednesday that Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Sgt. Adams Lin violated Dontrell Stephens’ civil rights when he shot him in September 2013. Lin had stopped Stephens for riding his bicycle into traffic.

Lin testified he shot Stephens four times because he reached for his waistband with his left hand and then flashed forward a dark object that he thought was a small handgun. Video from the dashboard camera in Lin’s patrol car showed Stephens’ left hand was empty and a cellphone was in his right hand.

An appeal is expected.

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1:45 p.m.

An attorney for a sheriff’s deputy who shot an unarmed black man and left him paralyzed told a federal jury the deputy made a “reasonably objective” mistake because the man moved his cellphone like it was a gun and was about to shoot.

Attorney Summer Barranco said in closing arguments Wednesday that Palm Beach County Sgt. Adams Lin didn’t have the ability to slow down or stop the motions of 22-year-old Dontrell Stephens when they faced each other between two parked cars in September 2013. Lin testified Stephens had a dark object in his hand when he flashed it forward like it was a gun, leading him to pull his own gun and fire four shots. Stephens denies doing this.

Stephens is suing Lin and the sheriff’s office, alleging his civil rights were violated by the 2013 shooting. Lin is Asian-American. Stephens is seeking at least $24 million.

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11 a.m.

An attorney for a 22-year-old black man who was unarmed when a sheriff’s deputy shot and paralyzed him told a federal jury the man should get at least $24 million.

Attorney Darryl Lewis said during closing arguments Wednesday that Dontrell Stephens will have more than $6 million in medical expenses during his lifetime. He said Stephens deserves at least $18 million for his pain and suffering.

Stephens is suing Palm Beach County Sgt. Adams Lin and the sheriff’s office, alleging his civil rights were violated by the 2013 shooting. Lin, who is Asian-American, says he thought Stephens had a gun and was about to shoot him. His attorneys will present their closing arguments later Wednesday.

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2 a.m.

Closing arguments are expected in the federal lawsuit filed by an unarmed black man who was shot and paralyzed by a Florida sheriff’s deputy.

Attorneys for 22-year-old Dontrell Stephens and Palm Beach County Sgt. Adams Lin are expected to make their final pitches to the jurors Wednesday.

Lin is Asian-American. He testified he stopped Stephens for riding his bike into traffic in September 2013 and shot him after he reached for his waistband and flashed his hand forward with a dark object that Lin thought was a gun.

Stephens denied reaching for his waistband. He was holding a cellphone. He alleges Lin violated his civil rights. He is seeking more than $5 million in damages and future care.