A Jackson County jury just issued a $6.5 million bitch slap against the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners.
In the lawsuit, former KCPD officer Danny Holmes claimed that he was fired in 2005 because of his race, because he'd been a whistle blower against police misconduct, and that he was terminated without good cause, representing a breach of contract.
The jury in Circuit Court Judge David Byrn's courtroom agreed, awarding $250,000 to Holmes on the race claim, plus an additional $250,000 in punitive damages. On the whistle blower claim, the jury awarded Holmes $3.5 million. On the third claim of breach of contract due to termination without good cause, the jury gave Holmes $2.5 million.
No jurors opted to speak with the media after handing down the verdict at 11:30 a.m., but their decision indicates that they believed Holmes' story rather than that of high-ranking KCPD officials including board president Karl Zobrist, Chief of Police Jim Corwin and Deputy Chief Kevin Masters, all of whom testified in defense of the decision to fire Holmes.
The attorney for the police board, Diane Peters, said she expects the board to file an appeal.
Holmes' attorney, Lyle Gregory, said, "Yippie," when asked for his reaction to the verdict. Of his client, he said, "He is one of the best cops you'll ever meet, and Michael Hutcheson still has a job, and Danny doesn't."
Hutcheson, a KCPD detective, was working a 2003 missing persons case at the time that Holmes, a beat cop, searched the apartment of a drug dealer thought to be the last person to see the missing person alive. Hutchenson has denied that he was the one who directed Holmes to search the drug dealer's apartment, write a false report of that night's investigation and hold onto a box of bullets Holmes took from the apartment, rather than turning it in as evidence. When the misdeeds were discovered through a 2005 internal affairs investigation, Hutcheson was suspended for eight days (he later appealed the discipline and never had to take those days off). When the missing persons case became a murder investigation and, three years later, Holmes' actions were questioned by Jackson County prosecutors, he became the KCPD's scapegoat for all wrongdoing in the investigation, according to court testimony.
Gregory said that the $6.5 million sum is the largest award he's won in his career. In his closing arguments yesterday, he'd asked the jury to award Holmes $1.9 million.
When asked what his future plans were, Holmes wasn't thinking beyond the present. "I'll probably pick up my son early from school," he told reporters.
Update: You can read Chief Corwin's response to the verdict here.
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The Kansas City Shuffel strikes again, but it's just another day for the Kansas City Police Department, because like the KCTV5 news reporter reporting the story said just because the jury awarded Mr. Holmes $6.5M verdict does not mean the Kansas City Police Department did anything wrong!-Born to do battle, drafted at birth!-Michael E. McKinzy,Sr.-11-03-2010
A very good article and exceptional blog. Is there any way I can subscribe to new articles, you know like acquiring them on email or something like that.
Well thank God my cousin finally won this case it has been a long time coming. He is the one who influenced me to join the Infantry and deploy (currently 3rd deployment). He is a stand up guy! He also influenced me to get a degree in Criminal Justice. Good Job Danny!
Danny Holmes was one of my best Army friends for the 4 years we served together in the infantry. He's a stand up guy and one of the most fair minded people you could ever meet. It's no surprise to me that a jury took him at his word and righted a wrong.
I can tell you for a fact Danny Holmes is a stand up guy. I served in the 10th Mountain Division 1/87 Infantry with him years ago. He always did the right thing, put others before himself, and put his ass on the line in Somalia and Haiti. He was one of the bet soldiers I had the pleasure of serving with. A jury of his peers called the ball on this one. Sinc eday one I knew Danny did the right thing as he always has done since I knew him.
Guy Coombs murder is not unsolved. We all know who killed Guy Coombs. He is in jail serving a long federal drug sentence. Danny Holmes had nothing to do with that case falling apart. Get your facts straight. You can thank lying detective Michael Hutcheson for that one!
Guy Coombs death had nothing to do with Danny Holmes. He felt bad that the outcome was as it was. He was trying to help a family no one else wanted to help find their loved one at the order of a lazy careless detective who could not be bothered. Everything else was dishonest people messing up a case and trying to pin it on the little guy. You come on here and comment on Danny Holmes and how he lied and didn't do the right thing and blah blah blah. Tell me this. Why did the first judge, the second judge, a jury of people, and a week of testimony get him much more then he even asked for? Because you can't deny that he has stone cold hard evidence that shows that the officers involved and the officials who know better used him to cover up their own flaws, faults and huge mistakes. He didn't even care about the money. He wanted to clear his name and help his children that have been without for 4 years. How would he continue to support them since his career was stolen from him? Funny how when the outcome brought truth to light those who caused all of this are crying wahhh wahhh wahhh it�s not fair. You should be ashamed of yourselves. What is not fair is taking away a persons career, putting him, his children, and his family in a state of poverty for 4 years, blocking his every move to feed and clothe his children, and allowing it to drag on for years and years for the sake of a bunch of lies told and committed by people who are supposed to tell the truth always. Officials, superiors, thoes who know better. Lord have mercy on your souls. You will be judged! The judge on earth sees the EVIDENCE! and because of that Danny saw justice, but one day the Ultimate Judge will deal with those involved . Scary thing! Pray hard!Ask for forgivness!
Danny had better keep whatever type of job he has, his award will be reduced.
I worked security at a hotel in westport while Danny Holmes was an officer. He was one of the best officers I could get to work with. He was always fair and easy to work with. I appreciate his years of service to the city. You did the right thing brother.
He should be donating a large chunk of that, undeserved money, to the Coombs family.
more importantly, Holmes admitted to particpating in illegal actions. Whether those actions were directed by a detective or if they were of his own idiotic voilition, he still violated the law. And yet, he suffers no consequences.
Personally, I doubt his claims that he was ordered to put a gun in the freezer and take the bullets and put them in his bag for a year. Because that would serve no purpose in helping the case. It would only hurt it, so why would a detective tell him to do it? Makes zero sense.
In any event, for the sake of argument, lets say he WAS instructed to do it. First of all, detecives in KCPD do not outrank officers. they are the same rank. so a detective can't order an officer to do anything.
Most importantly, you are under no obligation to follow illegal orders. In fact, its your duty to NOT follow illegal orders.
He violated the law and the jury gave him a lotto award. And the homicide victim's family gets no justice.
Does this mean the Coombs family loses? No one has been brought to justice for the killing of Guy Coombs. Seems like Holmes is getting rich off of the MURDER of Guy Coombs.
Praise God! God is Good and Just! No matter what the world thinks about Danny Holmes God is blessing him and his family for the suffering they have endured. Danny told the truth. Obviously God knows the truth! The truth in this case did set him free!
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