Two WTO Pepper-Sprayed WTO Protesters Settle For $100,000
AP 12dec00
SEATTLE -- Two women who were pepper-sprayed by a King County sheriff's deputy during the World Trade Organization protests last year have settled their lawsuit for $100,000.
Melissa Ann Benton and Shauna Ballast, students at the Art Institute of Seattle, claimed in U.S. District Court that Deputy John Vanderwalker violated their civil rights and that the county failed to supervise him properly.The county agreed to pay $100,000 to settle their claims.
Benton and Ballast said they were parked at a supermarket parking lot filming demonstrations during the World Trade Organization meeting Dec. 1, 1999. According to their lawsuit, Vanderwalker tried unsuccessfully to open the driver's door, then told Benton to roll her window down and shot pepper spray into her face when she complied.
Vanderwalker, a sheriff's patrol officer for 19 years, was fired in April for using unnecessary force during the protests.
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