Ratlieff added that Fort Lauderdale not only has decided to defend its “outrageous and illegal behavior” but also not to correct it. She said “every single person” who was at the protest four years ago should join the lawsuit, and that only way to change the FLPD’s ways is to force it through the courts.
Evan Ross, a spokesman for the plaintiffs, told Law360 on Monday that the city hasn’t taken any action as a result of the protests or what happened to Ratlieff.
“Shooting someone in the head with that type of round is considered lethal,” Ross said.
Proposed class representative Jackson, who has four children, said at the press conference that she attended the protest to “advocate for positive change” but got tear-gassed instead.
At the press conference, Gabelus said he helped a “woman that was shot” during the protest and brought her to the hospital. The woman he helped was Ratlieff. Gabelus added that the lawsuit is about accountability that the FLPD doesn’t want.
Representatives for the defendants declined to comment on Monday.
