Calif. City Settles Police Misconduct Claim for $360K

The city of Antioch has agreed to pay $360,000 to settle a class action lawsuit alleging police formed a special unit to target and harass black residents who received subsidized rent.

The City Council agreed to settle the three year-old lawsuit Tuesday night. The agreement must be approved by a federal judge.

The agreement calls for five residents to split $180,000. Their lawyers are to be paid the same amount.

The residents had sought millions of dollars and city officials said Wednesday they agreed to settle the case to avoid the expense of a trial.

The city denied targeting the low-income black renters, but agreed as part of the settlement to refrain from basing police actions on a resident’s status as a receiver of a federal subsidy.