(Feb. 23, 2017) The deadline to settle an alleged equal protection claim against the Town of Berlin was Jan. 15. Then, it was Jan. 31.
Last week, Luke Rommel, a Salisbury attorney representing Ronshell Shockley, said there was no longer a set deadline and that talks with the town were continuing.
“The Town of Berlin made a new settlement offer; we are not quite there yet but still hopeful the matter can be resolved. We have agreed to hold off with the lawsuit as long as the sides are moving closer together,” Rommel said.
“My usual approach is to set a deadline and stick to it, but in this instance a few things came up behind the scenes which led to relaxing the deadline,” he continued. “At this time, our plan is to consider the Town of Berlin’s best offer; if we cannot accept it we will file suit immediately thereafter. As of now, settlement discussions have been slow but relatively productive.”
Shockley contends she was forced to leave a public park – under threat of arrest – after an officer with the Berlin Police Department found her sitting on top of a picnic table at Dr. William Henry Park on June 30. Shockley is African-American and the officer was white.
Rommel stated in an interview last month that both sides had previously presented settlement offers, adding that if a deal could not be reached, “the alternative probably would be two or three years of federal litigation.”
Town officials declined to comment on the matter.
Last week, Luke Rommel, a Salisbury attorney representing Ronshell Shockley, said there was no longer a set deadline and that talks with the town were continuing.
“The Town of Berlin made a new settlement offer; we are not quite there yet but still hopeful the matter can be resolved. We have agreed to hold off with the lawsuit as long as the sides are moving closer together,” Rommel said.
“My usual approach is to set a deadline and stick to it, but in this instance a few things came up behind the scenes which led to relaxing the deadline,” he continued. “At this time, our plan is to consider the Town of Berlin’s best offer; if we cannot accept it we will file suit immediately thereafter. As of now, settlement discussions have been slow but relatively productive.”
Shockley contends she was forced to leave a public park – under threat of arrest – after an officer with the Berlin Police Department found her sitting on top of a picnic table at Dr. William Henry Park on June 30. Shockley is African-American and the officer was white.
Rommel stated in an interview last month that both sides had previously presented settlement offers, adding that if a deal could not be reached, “the alternative probably would be two or three years of federal litigation.”
Town officials declined to comment on the matter.