For over three years, the family of Casey Goodson Jr. has not stopped their pursuit of justice.
A year after Michael Jason Meade — a now former Franklin County, Ohio, sheriff’s SWAT deputy — was indicted for shooting Goodson in the back five times, Goodson’s family filed a wrongful death claim and a federal civil rights lawsuit against the accused shooter and the county that hired him. The federal case has been on pause pending the conclusion of Meade’s criminal case, according to online records.
On Tuesday, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a $7 million settlement to resolve the civil claims against the county. This settlement is “in no way an admission of liability on the part” of anyone involved in Goodson’s death, “including but not limited to” Meade, according to the resolution obtained by The New York Times.
Goodson’s family will have to await a jury’s verdict to determine Meade’s guilt after his trial, which is scheduled to start on Oct. 31, according to court records.
There have been other multimillion-dollar civil liability settlements this year in connection to fatal police encounters across the country. In February, the family of Rob Marquise Adams received a $4 million settlement from the city of San Bernardino, California, for his shooting death in July 2022. In March, the family of Terrence Coleman received a $4.6 million settlement from the city of Boston for his 2016 death. Coleman was experiencing a mental health crisis when he was shot and killed by police. In May, the family of Johnny Hollman reached a $3.8 million settlement with the city of Atlanta for police officers causing his death after excessively using their stun gun on the 62-year-old man during a traffic stop last August.
For Goodson’s family, this settlement “marks a significant step in the pursuit of justice for Casey and his loved ones,” wrote Sean L. Walton, an attorney for the Goodson family, in a statement announcing the settlement. “While no amount of money can ever compensate for the loss of Casey, this settlement is a crucial acknowledgment of the profound impact his death has had on his family and the broader community.”
Goodson’s family has turned its pain to purpose since his Dec. 4, 2020, death by attending town hall meetings, calling for police reform, and attending rallies hosted by grassroots organizations.
With those civil claims resolved, Walton said that Goodson’s family are able to focus their energy on Meade’s trial.
Meade was indicted in December 2021 and charged with two counts of murder and one count of reckless homicide. The case went to trial in February, but after two weeks of testimony, the judge declared a mistrial when jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. It was a 9-3 decision to convict Meade for the murder of Goodson, Walton told Capital B earlier this year.
Goodson, 23, was walking toward his grandmother’s front door with his keys in one hand and a bag of Subway sandwiches in another when he was shot by Meade. Police said Meade was searching for a fugitive when he spotted Goodson with a gun, and words were exchanged before he opened fire. The incident was not captured on a body camera.
Prosecutors revealed during opening statements that a gun was found at the scene, but in the kitchen with the safety on — Goodson was licensed to carry a firearm.
The special prosecutor will retry Meade for one count of murder and one count of reckless homicide, according to court records. One of the murder charges was dropped by prosecutors.
“We are determined to see justice served and will continue to advocate tirelessly for the conviction and accountability that Casey deserves,” Walton wrote. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who have stood by Casey’s family during this difficult time.”