University of California to pay 21 pepper-sprayed Occupy protesters $1 million

Los Angeles, CA, United States (4E) – Occupy protesters who were pepper-sprayed by police during a demonstration in November will receive a pay-out of around $1 million from the University of California as part of a settlement plus a written personal apology from Chancellor Linda Katehi.

The court document, filed last Wednesday, is the result of a lawsuit filed by protesters composed of 21 students and former students in February, although the settlement is still awaiting a federal judge’s validation.

Each of the 21 plaintiffs will get $30,000 for a total payout of $630,000, their lawyers will receive $250,000 and $100,000 for others with proof to claims of being arrested and/or pepper-sprayed during the November 18 rally.

The rally was to protest against rising tuition costs and reduced services. Campus police wanted to disperse students camping on the Quad and after being warned repeatedly, pepper spray were finally used.

A university spokesman said that the campus police officer who pepper-sprayed the protesters is no longer working at the school as of late July,.

The settlement money will come from the school’s self-insurance fund.

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