Parents of Celtics Fan Settle with Boston for $3M

June 18, 2010

The parents of a Boston Celtics fan who stopped breathing and later died after police took him into custody during 2008 NBA championship celebrations have settled with the city for $3 million.

The settlement announced Thursday by a lawyer for the parents of David Woodman came on the same day the Celtics were played — and lost — to the Los Angeles Lakers in the deciding Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals.

The 22-year-old Woodman died 11 days after police took him into custody on a public drinking charge on June 18, 2008.

Woodman’s parents blamed their son’s death on police. An independent investigation found that officers acted reasonably and concluded the death was caused by a pre-existing heart condition.

A spokeswoman for Mayor Thomas Menino said the city had no immediate comment.

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