The out-of-court settlement a Cochranton-area man’s federal civil rights lawsuit brought against two Crawford County corrections officers cost $210,000.
A copy of the settlement agreement was formally released by the county Tuesday following a Right-To-Know request filed by The Meadville Tribune.
In January, Carl Gibson, 58, filed suit in U.S. District Court in Erie for a July 8, 2018, assault inside his cell when Gibson was an inmate at the county jail in Saegertown.
Both Francis Weiderspahn Jr., chairman of Crawford County commissioners, and John Mizner, Gibson's attorney, declined the Tribune's requests for comment on the settlement. The settlement contains a clause, stating, "no public comment regarding any matters pertinent to this lawsuit."
Payment of the settlement came through the county's liability insurance through PCoRP, or Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool, but the county did have to pay a $10,000 deductible which went toward attorney fees, expenses and court costs associated with the case.
The assault was sparked by Gibson throwing milk out the meal slot of a cell door with the milk splashing on Bryan Minman, a corrections officer.
Minman was convicted of simple assault during a criminal trial in Crawford County Court of Common Pleas in September and will be sentenced for the crime later this month.
Minman punched Gibson in face, causing injuries so extensive Gibson had to have surgery to repair fractured bones in his face.
Gibson's federal suit sought damages in excess of $75,000 as well as attorney fees and “all other relief permitted by law.”
In May, the county and Gibson notified the court of mediation to try to resolve the civil suit, according to federal court records. A notice of voluntary dismissal was filed with U.S. District Court in Erie on June 21, but no dollar amount is listed with the dismissal.
Minman was one of the two guards named in Gibson's federal civil suit but was the only one to face criminal charges.
While the jury convicted Minman, 33, of Saegertown of simple assault, the jury found Minman not guilty on three other charges — another count of simple assault for attempting to strike Gibson and two counts of official oppression. All of those charges were filed by Pennsylvania State Police in January.
Minman faces up two years in jail and a $5,000 fine on the simple assault charge. Minman remains free on his own recognizance as he awaits sentencing.
Original Article by: Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.