CORBIN — Nov. 11, 2010.pdf
By Carl Keith Greene/Staff Writer
Just after 9 p.m. Wednesday, a jury of six women and two men returned a verdict against Whitley County and Sheriff Lawrence Hodge ordering a $6.2 million award to Christopher Brewer.
The civil suit verdict held that “under color of law” Tony Ramey, in a criminal trial in Whitley Circuit Court last spring, had pleaded guilty to assaulting Brewer while attempting to retrieve a pistol from him.
The federal jury found that Ramey had deprived Brewer of his constitutional rights.
It also charged that Hodge had failed to properly train and supervise volunteer deputies and showed “deliberate indifference” to the proper supervision and Brewer’s injuries were the direct result of Hodge’s conduct.
The jury award of $6,282,480 includes pain and suffering, emergency medical costs, past lost wages, future wages and future medical expenses.
At about 8:30 p.m., the jury, which took the case at about 5:30 p.m., reported that it had reached a verdict and the nine members reported to the court room.
The foreperson reported that the verdict was unanimous. The verdict was read by the court clerk and neither lawyer for Brewer nor Whitley County asked for a polling of the jury.
As the jury was being dismissed, one of the jurors asked for polling and Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove agreed.
When polled, she said she had voted against the verdict. The other eight said they had agreed with the verdict.
The jury was returned to the jury room and told to continue deliberations.
The juror who had voted against the verdict had, at about 7:45 p.m., asked to be heard by the judge.
He and the lawyers heard her at the bench and, according to sources, she and the judge had discussed her problem with deliberation and she made a Biblical reference.
After the jury was retired to deliberate again, the parties discussed the matter in open court and after the discussions, Van Tatenhove ordered that the jury be reduced to eight people and she be dismissed.
Within about 10 minutes, the jury returned with the same verdict as earlier.
A default judgement against Tony Ramey had already been entered prior to the beginning of the trial.
The case began on the morning of Wednesday, June 13, 2007, at Brewer’s home on Gilliam Street in Corbin.
A few weeks earlier, Perry Ramey’s son had sold Brewer a pistol he had stolen from his father.
Tony Ramey learned of the sale of the pistol and took Perry to retrieve it.
When Perry knocked on Brewer’s door and Perry asked for the pistol, a fight ensued.
Brewer shouted for his house mate, Rachel Poole, for help. She came to the door, saw what was happening and called the police.
By that time Tony Ramey, who had been made a volunteer Whitley County deputy sheriff had entered the fray and attempted to get Brewer off Perry Ramey in the fight.
In the process he struck Brewer with the butt of his own pistol, telling Brewer that he was a deputy sheriff and he was under arrest.
As Tony and Perry Ramey were taking Brewer, who had sustained a cut on his head and had given up the fight, Corbin police officers arrived.
They took over Brewer and the Rameys left.
Eventually, Tony Ramey was interviewed by then Corbin Police Captain Tim Helton.
Brewer was taken to Baptist Regional Medical Center, treated and released the following day.
Witnesses in the seven-day trial in U.S. District Court in London included an economist, physicians specializing in general medicine and psychiatry. Also testifying were doctors of neuro-psychology and optometry.
Hodge, Poole, Brewer, Brewer’s father and Tony Ramey also testified.
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
