City settles with family of Johnny Hollman for $3.8 million after death tied to tasing

ATLANTA — Channel 2 Action News has learned that the city has reached a settlement with the family of Johnny Hollman for $3.8 million.

Hollman was a church deacon and grandfather.

He died after an Atlanta police officer tased him in the aftermath of a minor accident on August 10.

Sources told Channel 2 Action News that it was a unanimous vote.

Holloman’s family and attorneys released statements on Monday evening following the city’s decision:

In matters pertaining to civil rights litigation, our law firm often has an adversarial relationship with the City of Atlanta. That is no secret. In this instance, however, Mayor Andre Dickens, outgoing City Attorney Nina Hickson, and the City of Atlanta unquestionably did the right thing. We applaud them and thank them on behalf of the Hollman family.

—  Statement of Harold W. Spence, Esq.

On behalf of my siblings and our entire family, we want to thank all the people across Atlanta who have supported us in our fight for justice for our father. The students, clergy, organizers, and artists who prayed, marched, and stood with us have been a true blessing. We are grateful that Mayor Dickens and the City Council have brought closure to this part of our fight for justice. We will continue to demand arrests of those responsible for our father’s death.

—  Arnitra Hollman, Daughter of Deacon Johnny Hollman & Family Spokesperson

Today’s resolution allows this family to focus on healing from the devastating and senseless loss of their beloved father. This could only have been resolved with the support of the community. The people stood with this courageous family. Deacon Hollman was a son of Atlanta who loved this city, and his family has been fighting for the City to acknowledge that what happened to him should not have. While this part of their struggle is coming to a close, this fight for justice will not end until criminal charges are levied.

—  Attorney Mawuli Davis, founding partner of Davis Bozeman Johnson Law

RELATED STORIES:

• Family of Atlanta deacon Tased during traffic stop suing tow truck driver, company in his death
• Taser manufacturing company claims their device could not have been Johnny Hollman’s cause of death
• ‘I’m hurting. My family is hurting;’ Family reacts to Johnny Hollman body camera video
• ‘They lied!’ Family of Deacon who died following Tasing by police, angered following video release

Mayor Andre Dickens also released a statement. He said his thoughts will remain with the Holloman family:

My thoughts remain with the Hollman family, and while nothing can undo what has been done, my priority was to get this family as close to full closure from this unfortunate tragedy as soon as possible. Significant changes to procedures following the incident have been made, which include the new CARES unit—whose first members’ training should conclude next month.

—  Mayor Andre Dickens

RELATED NEWS:

Taser manufacturing company claims their device could not have been Johnny Hollman’s cause of death

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