City of Eufaula settles suit for $85,000


Saturday, November 1st 2003, 12:00 am
By: News On 6


Allegations that two former Eufaula police officers beat a woman have been settled.

A lawsuit filed by Thomas and Rena Banks of Eufaula was settled on Friday for $85,000. The case was scheduled to go to trial in federal court in McAlester on Monday.

Banks' attorney, Kay Bridger-Riley of Tulsa, says evidence would have shown that police beat Rena Banks on two different occasions in September and October 2001.

Bridger-Riley says testimony would have shown that part of the animosity shown them was because they are a biracial couple. One is black and the other is Indian.

Bridger-Riley's firm won a $250,000 settlement against Eufaula several years ago over the mistreatment of a black police officer by his superiors.