Pate, Johnson & Church has been helping clients with matters involving police brutality or excessive force for over 25 years. At times, the media will contact Attorney Page Pate for comments about our clients’ cases. When in the best interest of our clients, Page will speak with the media so that our clients’ side of the story can be heard.
In this case, CNN interviewed Page about the indictment of 5 Georgia police officers who were involved in the death of Fernando Octavio Rodriguez, a twenty-four year old young man who died after encountering the Henry County Police Department and the City of Hampton Police Department after a concert at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Mr. Rodriguez was tased by officers over a dozen times while laying on the ground, and he later died from asphyxiation. The officers have been charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and violation of oath of office.
Regarding the indictment, Page comments that “This is a clear civil rights violation, and apparently the DA agrees.” He also says that Mr. Rodriguez’s family is “very pleased [with the indictment]” and that they have “been waiting patiently for justice. We know this is long process, but this is a good start.”
Our firm filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Mr. Rodriguez’s family in the Northern District of Georgia, which accused the officers, the city, and the county of wrongfully causing Mr. Rodriguez’s death and violating Mr. Rodriguez’s constitutional rights. Page tells CNN that the City of Hampton has settled the lawsuit with the family, and that “They paid the family $3 million as soon as they saw the complaint.” He expects that Henry County will also settle the lawsuit in a similar way.
