UC Davis Reaches Settlement with Pepper Spray Victims
The University of California school system will pay $30,000 in damages to each of the UC Davis students and alumni who were pepper-sprayed during a peaceful protest late last year, university officials said Wednesday.
The settlement will cost the UC system a total of about $1 million with $30,000 going to each victim, $250,000 towards attorneys fees, and a separate $100,000 for any other victims who come forward.
UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi will also be required to write formal apologies to each of the victims as a part of the settlement.
The pepper-spraying of peaceful protestors at UC Davis on Nov. 18, 2011 received national attention after videos of the attack were posted online.
Videos showing officers spraying students directly in the face at close proximity triggered outrage and an investigation by the university.
In May, university administrators were urged to use mediation instead of direct confrontation in future protests, although pepper-spraying was not officially banned.
