Transcription
Paralyzed, while in custody of the New Haven police, is now suing that city, seeking a $100 million in damages. The incident was caught on camera, and a warning here, the video might be difficult for some people to watch.
Randy Cox has been paralyzed from the chest down since being arrested back in June. He was handcuffed in the back of a police van when authorities say the driver stopped suddenly to avoid an accident. As a result, Cox was sent crashing into the partition in the back of the van. Cox told officers he couldn't move, even saying he thought his neck had been broken, but they pulled him out of the van by his feet. He was processed in a wheelchair and dragged into a holding cell. Five officers were later placed on administrative leave.
What happened to Randy Cox never should have happened. And if we say we respect Randy Cox's life, then we have to show that by action. Cox had been arrested on suspicion of illegally possessing a handgun. He was recently re-admitted to the hospital due to complications from his paralysis.
Hi, my name is Latoya Boomer. I'm Randy's sister. So, I want to start off with a couple days ago, one of my friends sent me a video on Instagram of a guy that was in an accident and broke his neck. He was back walking within 4 months. And it's been 3 months since this happened to Randy. And so, I guess the video they sent me was thinking that it would be inspirational, but it actually made me sad because had Randy not been moved, maybe he could have had better progress. Had he not been thrown around or thrown in a chair or thrown on a cell floor, maybe he could have better progress.
So, we're here seeking justice. [Applause] I spoke to the mayor and the police chief. They said they're going to do what's right for Randy. So, I'm hoping and praying that that's what happens. [Applause] Like they said, there is no amount of money that can replace having your bodily functions, your ability to move. Everybody out here holding a camera, a microphone, cell phone, you walked to get over here. He has none of that. So, we will get justice.
So, also, we don't want any lip service. We want action. So, the action can't come from me. It has to come from the people that have those jobs. So, being the mayor or the police commission or someone with any of those titles. So, I'll be waiting. Thank you.
Thank you, Latoya. And now, Ms. Doreen is going to tell you what she wants. I want everyone to pray for my son. I want justice for my son. He can't do anything for himself. Yes, I am the one that's there most of the time helping him eat, helping him drink water, drink juice. Other family members and friends bringing food. I have to go down here in the hospital to get it and bring it back up to him. I'm just upset a little bit that I can't stay there overnight with him just to help him through the night, but he calls me and the nurses help him checking in with me and I check in with him. I just want everybody to have them, the higher-ups, the people that have the responsibility to do whatever to make it better, to help him get through this ordeal. We're dealing with it, but we need help, too. We want all of y'all to pay attention and do what you have to do now. Yesterday, last week, last month, last year. However long it take, do what's right for my son. Responsibility is what you're supposed to do. Say, "I'm responsible for this." Own up to it. "I'm responsible for that." Own up to it. "Yes, I did that." "No, I didn't do that." You're the one did it cuz you got witnesses saying you did it. Own up to it. Pray for my son, please.
Thank you, Ms. Doreen. And and the family is adamant and Ms. Doreen made eye contact with the mayor. The family is adamant. They were in the hospital when they came to visit. Do the right thing. It's not that much to ask. You have the power. [Applause] Don't make technical legal semantics. So, do the right thing. Restore the trust in this community. Do the right thing. [Applause]
At this time, we'll take some of your questions if you have any. Attorney Crump, uh you talked about the $100 million lawsuit filed, and $20 to $30 million is the estimate for basic quality of life for Randy. How did you arrive at $100 million?
Yeah, you know, uh again, as Ms. Doreen told us when we were talking about what demand to put on the city, she said, "No amount of money will If you said a billion dollars, it wouldn't be enough for me." And so, the family and the legal team arrived on $100 million, but remember the basics is $20 to $30 million, just basic quality of life. You know, having to try to retrofit a van to get him to and from the hospital. Can you imagine what it's like trying to get him to and from the hospital now? What they have to go through trying to pick up a grown man and and she doesn't have a car. I mean, it's so much. But then, on top of that, it's the mental anguish. That that is probably worse than death itself, the mental anguish of knowing you got a itch and you can't do nothing. Knowing that I got to have somebody help me to move my bowels. You know, how much would you want just say, "I would trade places with Randy Cox." How much would we have to give anybody? And so, that's what this is about, trying to say, "Look at what he's enduring. He's a human being." Look at the humanity in him. I mean, we have, you know, we have to be honest, we have uh tradition in America of discounting people of color, marginalizing their value. You know, saying that it's not that significant. He's insignificant. He's not insignificant. And that's why I continue to say, "Look at Ms. Doreen's child as you look at your own child." And if they were in this situation, would you say, "Oh, well, that's too much." No, you'll say, "No, sit and do the right thing. Step up. Start trying to see if you can put an amount that would be fair for this family." And not put them through this trial. They did it in George Floyd, they did it in Breonna Taylor, they did it in Andre Hill because they understood if what happens normally in criminal cases with black people and police, [Applause] there's normally not justice. The only thing they can control is what happens in the civil arena. And that is an issue exclusively for city hall and the mayor and the city commission. It's in their exclusive control. It's what are they going to do?
Attorney Crump, just to clarify, you're asking the mayor and the police chief to do the right thing. Are you asking them to settle outside of this trial or is that what you're talking about? To try to avoid putting this family through the pain and mental anguish of a trial. Now, if they don't want to do it, that's fine by us because the family is resolute. They're ready to go all the way. And we believe a jury will give in excess of $100 million when they hear all the facts laid out. When they hear the video broke down frame by frame of the police officers who were supposed to be trained, have policy, what they're supposed to do. And when they hear about things in the past what happened in the state, that Star Action and the NAACP have documented. Once the jury ALL OF THAT IS, I think the jury is going to be outraged. It's not going to be $100 million. I think it's going to be far in excess of it. So, this is an opportunity for the city to be financially responsible to their citizens. So, to clarify, you're asking them to settle before this goes to trial? To do the right thing. Whatever it would be if it was a little white boy, do the same thing for a little black boy.
We're talking and I don't know which way if you want to come back up here. Sorry. You're We're talking obviously and hearing about what Randy is going through now. What have the doctors and his medical team shared at all? What does it look like for him going forward? Is there a chance for him to get any positive or life back? Or are they saying that this is what it's going to be for the rest of his life?
At this point, we're still waiting. But I mean, it doesn't look that good at the moment. You know, he keeps going back to the hospital. You know, he keeps getting infections. I mean, So, he's had no improvement at all in his paralysis? No. We don't need Say something. Take the question. I have a question. Statute of limitations who's immigrating oppression. Let me say this. What is the statute of limitation? Yeah. Free us, man. You're a rich brother.
Hey, uh let me say this. As I was reminded by my co-counselors, before we filed this lawsuit, we were very transparent with the city leadership. And we vow to continue to be very transparent with the city leadership. We're not hiding our hands at all. We think this case is very, very clear. I mean, it is very clear. You know, you have the elements we have to prove. The liability, the duties that were owed. That's clear. Based on video. The damages. That's clear. I mean, everybody here is sophisticated enough to understand what is the quality of life for a quadriplegic. And what is going to uh be the value of taking care of that person. I mean, we know it. This ain't rocket science. And and and the mayor and the chief, they saw for themselves. They've been to the hospital, I think twice now. They saw Randy and his his uh limitations. They they saw it with their own eyes. I I applauded them for going to see him, but I can't give them credit if they're not going to do anything about it.
Mhm. Attorney Crump, is there anything or Latoria or Doreen have they talked to the doctors about a life expectancy for Randy in the current state that he's in? Well, we we don't want to talk about that now. We We remain prayerful and we believe in a God that uh is miraculous. And so, we're going to continue to have hope. And please continue to pray for him.
Any last questions? What do you all make of the I mean, still with the officers still being paid? We haven't heard anything in terms of the state attorney in the investigation that are happening. What do you all make of it? I know the family has called for the officers to be fired, etc. All those things.
Yeah, and I'm going to let y'all hear from Latoria again, but we know the state where the state attorney and the criminal justice system does is a process that has all the due process and the procedures because every citizen is considered innocent until proven guilty. But this and the collective bargaining agreement, but this is a a beast of a different animal when you're talking about the civil matter. The civil matter is something that's controlled completely by the politicians and the city leadership. The state attorney matter is a function of constitutional purview that has to go through that process. Now, with that said, I think I don't know, Scottie. You got a video, man. When people in our community are accused of something they got a video, it don't take that long. Attorney O'Neal. It don't. It don't take that long. But it seems like when it's the police doing something bad to uh uh person, especially a black person, man, it take forever. It take forever for them to come and do what they would do with us in a hour. If they had a video of us doing something bad in the gravity, I mean, they're arresting us in a hour. So, we know that the state attorney and them shouldn't take too much longer now to conclude this investigation. It's on video. We all see what happened.
And Latoria, do you want to say something to that? What do you want to see happen? I want to see them fired and arrested. And I'll keep saying it until it happens. We thank you. We'll keep you updated. The only thing we will say is do the right thing by Randy Cox now. You don't have to put it off. You got the power. The people gave you the power. The people trusted you with the power. Don't betray that trust. Justice for Randy Cox. JUSTICE FOR RANDY COX. JUSTICE FOR RANDY COX. JUSTICE FOR RANDY COX. JUSTICE FOR RANDY COX. JUSTICE FOR RANDY COX. Thank you. Thank you all. Good job. [Applause]
Hi, my name is Latoria Bullard. I'm Randy's sister. So, I want to start off with a couple days ago, one of my friends sent me a video on Instagram of a guy that was in an accident and broke his neck. And he was back walking within 4 months. And it's been 3 months since this happened to Randy. And so, I guess the video they sent it thinking that it would be inspirational, but it actually made me sad because had Randy not been moved, maybe he could have had better progress. Had he not been thrown around or thrown in a chair or thrown on a cell floor, maybe he could have better progress. [Applause]
So, we're here seeking justice. [Applause] I spoke to the mayor and the police chief. They said they're going to do what's right for Randy. So, I'm hoping and praying that that's what happens. [Applause] Like they said, there is no amount of money that can replace having your bodily functions, your ability to move. Everybody out here with their camera, microphone, cell phone, you walked to get over here. He has none of that. So, we will get justice. [Applause]
So, also, we don't want any lip service. We want action. So, the action can't come from me. It has to come from the people that have those jobs. So, being the mayor or the police commission or someone with any of those titles. So, I'll be waiting. Thank you.
Thank you, Latoria. And now, Mr. Ring and his mother is going to tell you what she wants. I want everyone to pray for my son. I want justice for my son. He can't do anything for himself. Yes, I am the one that's there most of the time helping him eat, helping him drink water, drink juice. Other family members and friends bring him food. I have to go down to get it in the hospital to get it and bring it back up to him. I'm just upset a little bit that I can't stay there overnight with him just to help him through the night. But he calls me and the nurses help him check in with me and I check in with him. I just want everybody to have them, the higher-ups, the people that have the responsibility to do whatever to make it better, to help him get through this. We're dealing with it, but we need help, too. We want all of y'all to pay attention and do what you have to do now. Yesterday, last week, last month, last year, however long it take, do what's right for my son. Responsibility is what you're supposed to do. Say, "I am responsible for this." Own up to it. "I'm responsible for that." Own up to it. "Yes, I did that." "No, I didn't do that." You're the one did it cuz you got witnesses saying you did it. Own up to it. Pray for my son, please.
Thank you, Mr. Ring. And and the family is adamant. And and Mr. Ring made that contact with the mayor. The family is adamant. They were in the hospital when they came to visit. Do the right thing. It's not that much to ask. You have the power. [Applause] Don't make technical legal semantics. So, do the right thing. Restore the trust in this community. Do the right thing. [Applause]
At this time, we'll take some of your questions if you have any. Attorney Crump, um you talked about the $100 million lawsuit filed and 20 to 30 million dollars is the estimate for basic quality of life for Randy. How did you arrive at 100 million?
Yeah, you know, uh well, again, as Ms. Doreen told us when we were talking about what demand to put on the city, she said, "No amount of money in the world. If you said a billion dollars, it wouldn't be enough for me." And so, the family and the legal team arrived on $100 million, but but remember the basics is 20 to 30 million dollars, just basic quality of life. You know, having to try to retrofit a a van to get him to and from the hospital. Can you imagine what it's like trying to get him to and from the hospital and now what they have to go through trying to pick up a grown man and and she doesn't have a car. I mean, it's so much. But, then on top of that, it's the mental anguish. That that is probably worse than death itself, the mental anguish of knowing you got a itch and you can't do nothing. Knowing that I got to have somebody help me to move my body. You know, how much would you want just say "I would trade places with Randy Cox." How much would we have to give anybody? And so, that's what this is about, trying to say, "Look at what he's enduring. He's a human being." That's right. Look at the humanity in him. I mean, we have, you know, we have to be honest. We have uh tradition in America of discounting people of color, marginalizing their value. You know, saying that it's not that significant. He's insignificant. He's not insignificant. And that's why I continue to say, "Look at Ms. Doreen's child as you look at your own children." That's right. And if they were in this situation, would you say, "Oh, well, that's too much." No, you'll say, "No, city, do the right thing. Step up. Start trying to see if you can put an amount that would be fair for this family and not put them through this trial." They did it in George Floyd, they did it in Breonna Taylor, they did it in Andre Hill because they understood if what happens normally in criminal cases with black people and police, [Applause] there's normally not justice. The only thing they can control is what happens in the civil arena. And that is an issue exclusively for city hall and the mayor and the city commission. It's in their exclusive control. It's what are they going to do?
Attorney Crump, just to clarify, you're asking the mayor and the commission to do the right thing. Are you asking them to settle outside of this trial or without a trial? To try to avoid putting this family through the pain and mental anguish of a trial. Now, if they don't want to do it, that's fine by us because the family is resolute. They're ready to go all the way. And we believe a jury will give in excess of $100 million when they hear all the facts laid out. When they hear the video broke down frame by frame of the police officers who were supposed to be trained, have policy, what they're supposed to do. And when they hear about things in the past what happened in the station that Scott and the NAACP have documented. Once the JURY ALL OF THIS, I think the jury's going to be outraged. It's not going to be a hundred million. I think it's going to be far in excess of it. So, this is an opportunity for the city to be financially responsible to to its citizens. So, you're asking the city to settle before this goes to trial? And if you do the right thing, whatever it would be if it was a little white boy, do the same thing for a little black boy.
We're talking and I don't know which way if you want to come back up here. Sorry. You're We're talking obviously and hearing about what Randy is going through now. What have the doctors and his medical team shared at all what does it look like for him going forward? Is there a chance for him to get any of his life back? Or are they saying that this is what it's going to be for the rest of his time?
At this point, we're still waiting, but I mean, it doesn't look that good at the moment. You know, he keeps going back to the hospital. You know, he keeps getting infections. I mean, So, he's had no improvement at all at all since then? No. Well, let me say something. One question. The Let me say this. Yeah. Hey, uh let me say this. Hey, uh let me say this. As I was reminded by my co-counselors, before we filed this lawsuit, we were very transparent with the city leadership and we vow to continue to be very transparent with the city leadership. We're not hiding our hands at all. We think this case is very very clear. I mean, it is very clear. You know, you have the elements we have to prove, the liability, the duties that were owed. That's clear based on video. The damages, that's clear. I mean, it's sophisticated enough to understand what is the quality of life for a quadriplegic and what is going to uh be the value of taking care of that person. I mean, we know it. This ain't rocket science. And and and the mayor and the chief, they saw for themselves. They've been to the hospital I think twice now. They saw Randy and his his uh limitations. They They saw it with their own eyes. I I applaud them for going to see it, but I can't give them credit if they're not going to do anything about it.
Mhm. Attorney Crump, is there anything or LaToya or Doreen have you talked to the doctors about a life expectancy for Randy in the current state that he's in? Well, we we don't want to talk about it now. We we remain prayerful and we believe in a God that uh is miraculous. And so, we're going to continue to have hope. And please continue to pray for.
Any last questions? What do you all make of the I mean, still with the officers still being paid? We haven't heard anything in terms of the state's attorney and the investigations that are happening. What do you all make of I know the family has called for the officers to be fired, etc.
Yeah, and I'm going to let y'all hear from LaToya again, but we know the state what the state attorney and the criminal justice system does is a process that has all to do with due process and the procedures because every citizen is considered innocent until proven guilty. But, this and and the collective bargaining agreement, but this is a a beast of a different animal when you're talking about the civil matter. The civil matter is something that's controlled completely by the politicians and the city leadership. The state attorney matter is a function of constitutional purview that has to go through that process. Now, with that said, I think I don't know, Scott. You got a video, man. When people in our community are accused of something and they got a video, it don't take that long. Attorney O'Neal. It don't. It don't take that long. It don't. But, it seems like when it's the police doing something bad to a a person, especially a black person, man, it take forever. It'll take forever for them to come and do what they would do with us in a hour. If they had a video of us doing something bad in the graveyard, I mean, they're arresting us in a hour. So, we know that the state attorney and them shouldn't take too much longer now to conclude this investigation. It's on video. We all see what happened.
And LaToya, do you want to say something to that? What do you want to see happen? I want to see them fired and arrested, and I'll keep saying it until it happens. We thank you. We'll keep you updated. The only thing we will say is do the right thing by Randy Cox now. You don't have to put it off. You got the power. The people gave you the power. The people trusted you with the power. Don't betray that trust. Justice for Randy Cox. JUSTICE FOR RANDY COX. JUSTICE FOR RANDY COX. JUSTICE FOR RANDY COX. JUSTICE FOR RANDY COX. JUSTICE FOR RANDY COX. Thank you. [Applause] [Music]