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Attorney: Family satisfied with settlement in police shooting
Attorney says he knew officer was on leave during negotiations in $700,000 settlement
Friday, Aug. 14, 2009 | 5:28 p.m.
Henderson Police Press Conference
On Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008, Chief Richard Perkins of the Henderson police department, held a press conference to address the shooting of 42-year-old Deshira Selimaj by police officer Luke Morrison.
Sun Archives
- Officer in fatal shooting on leave for separate incident (8-13-2009)
- City in settlement talks over ice cream truck driver’s shooting (8-3-09)
- Prosecutors drop charges against Selimaj (5-3-08)
- Henderson police chief responds to officer-involved shooting (2-21-08)
- How he saw it (2-21-08)
- Judge OKs suit over death of ice cream truck driver shot by police (2-20-09)
An attorney representing the widower of a woman shot and killed by a Henderson Police officer in 2008 said he knew during negotiations with the city that the officer has been placed on administrative leave for a separate issue, but said it didn’t significantly affect his case.
Attorney Marc Saggese, who represented Zyber Selimaj in the wrongful death suit Selimaj filed against the city in the death of his wife, Deshira Selimaj, said his client is satisfied with the $700,000 settlement approved today.
“I feel justice has been served,” Saggese said.
A Clark County Coroner’s jury ruled last year that the officer who pulled the trigger, Luke Morrison, was ruled justified in the shooting after Morrison and other officers testified that Deshira Selimaj threatened them with a knife after arriving at the scene where officers had pulled over Zyber Selimaj for a traffic violation.
Following the verdict, Zyber Selimaj filed a wrongful death suit against Henderson.
As the settlement was approved, Morrison was on paid administrative leave awaiting the outcome of an internal Henderson Police Department investigation into another matter. City officials confirmed Thursday that Morrison has been on leave for three weeks during the investigation, and that a resolution is expected next week.
Contacted at his home Friday, Morrison said he couldn’t discuss the matter.
Saggese said he was aware of Morrison’s administrative leave during the settlement negotiation process, though he said he did not find about it from Henderson officials or attorneys. Morrison’s leave was one of many factors that went into negotiations, he said.
“We’ve been working on settling this case for over four weeks,” Saggese said. “We took into account every aspect of the case, every piece of evidence and every witness statement.”
Saggese said he couldn’t discuss specifics of the settlement because of a non-disclosure agreement, though he did say his client was satisfied with the outcome and ready to begin moving on.
“It was a difficult situation for (Zyber Selimaj),” Saggese said. “No matter what figure we agreed to, his wife would never be brought back. That’s what has been the hardest aspect of this process for him. But he is content with this settlement and hopes to move on with the next chapter of his life with his family. That has been his ultimate purpose.”
A spokeswoman for Henderson said Thursday that the city stands by the coroner’s jury verdict, but that city officials and attorneys felt it would be in Henderson’s best interest to settle the case because of the expense and emotional toll that would be associated with a jury trial.
Discussion: 25 comments so far…
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Metro should hire this guy as a driving instructor. All we do is settle for cops that are out of line.
The City of Henderson just made this Zyber Selimaj an eligible batchelor....
Well, the City peed away 33 Mil on Lake Las Vegas, and now it's a complete disaster. What's 700G on this case? Mice Nuts. Let's hurry up, and waste millions on the Air and Space Museum. It will never end....Luke, let her go....
only $700k for a Woman's life??!! poor guy picked a crappy attorney for sure. Those poor kids
Those Zealots of the hooterville police got off easy...
The attorney probably got greedy and talked the husband into the settlement. They should have gotten millions and if I had been on the jury, you can believe they would have.
What a slap in the face! C'mon 25 million and only 700k! They should have gotten 1 mill for each child and plus some for therapy alone! Those kids must be living in a nightmare! I used to donate money to the Police force, but after this incident I have not and probably never will again!
The cops macho madness costs us taxpayers everyday. How much have we paid to Darling for his ordeal?
What a bunch of wimps, can't even take a little lady with a kitchen knife without gunning her down.
You people need to pull your heads out of your asses. The crazy woman attacked the police officer with a knife and deserved to be shot.There would be no settlement if a poor person had shot her, Henderson as well as all police departments have insurance to cover this and will only have to pay the deductable. As usual, all the scumbag lawyers come crawling out from under the rocks when there's insurance money involved. The insurance companies know that scumbag will keep the case in court for 5-10 years and run up their costs far and away above the $700,000. They know that when they win in court, the most they could hope for is the court costs back and the crazies husband would just declare bankrupsy and not pay anything.This was settled quickly because scumbag lawyer probably needed some quick cash.
I'm sorry about that comment about lawyers, just the other day I heard about a good lawyer. The rich lawyer was driving in the back of his limo and he spotted two men along the side of the road eating grass, he told the driver to stop and asked the guy what he was doing. the guy replied that he had nothing to eat and all he could find was grass. The good lawyer said,get into the limo and come with me. But sir, I've got a wife and two kids. Bring them along too, said the good lawyer. And bring your friend along also. But sir, the friend said, I've got a wife and six kids. Bring them along also said the good lawyer. The two men thanked the good lawyer and he repied that it was his pleasure, the grass was two feet tall at his house.
I mean no disrespect -- just an observation. Is anyone else besides me creeped out by the funeral pictures? What's that all about?
I find it more creepy about the cop on leave for another matter.... Now that's creepy!
You guys are crazy,,,, the cops should stand there and been stabbed. Thats what happens when you get a person that speaks hardly any english and give them a D.L. You ever tried to do more than say hi to someone who don't understand. They would have not have got any money from me.
Speaking of someone who "speaks hardly any english", thanks for weighing in dollfinfan75. How can you claim to be a "dollfinfan" when you can't even spell the name correctly.
In my opinion, Henderson Police are always looking for a fight. Just look at those stupid posters they made promoting how badass they are. Instead of smiling, and being friendly, and conveying a sense of "hey, we're the cops, we're here to serve you", they put out the message very clearly: "Don't F up, or it's going to be a long, dramatic, expensive day for you, and we're waiting". However, in this case, the crazy broad (God rest her soul) charged the cop with a knife. If you've ever seen Henderson's newest batch of geeks come out of the academy, it probably was a rookie, who after soiling himself, capped her twice center mass, and then put one up top for good measure. Anyone would have done the same thing. The City showed some compassion for the family, and gave them a bit of cash...big deal. They could have told Mr. Selimaj to sit and spin after what his crazy wife tried to pull.
Mr. Waditup.com,
As a resident in Henderson I have never felt intimidated by or felt that the police here were out to get me. Granted I don't usually pull knives on people or go looking for trouble. Maybe if that were the case I would feel a little differently. Judging by your screen name and some of your comments about how you feel they are waiting for you to "f up" and how they make it a long expensive day when you do, I am guessing you have had some experience with them. I'm sorry to be the one to let you in on this secret but the friendly tours of a police station ended in the third grade along with personal attacks on someone based on the spelling of their screen name. It is funny how people support the police in their efforts to protect and serve until the police are protecting and serving the community from them. You also assumed that the policeman who fired was "probably a rookie," and was scared enough to "soil himself," but yet had the wherewithal to mozambique someone which is, from what I'm told, a tactic somewhat frowned upon in law enforcement. Even if he was a rookie, since his new employee orientation included training on how to make decisions that would allow him to go home to his family at night, I'm guessing he was in a better position to decide what to do than you, who's job orientation probably included little more than where to find the bathroom and who ordered the office supplies.
If she had killed that cop the town would have shut down, flags would be at half mast, the city's freeways would be shut down for a funeral in respect for a "fallen hero," and she would have been exposed for what she was, a woman who thought it was acceptable to pull a knife on a policeman.
But since she died and he lived henderson is an oppressive police-state?
It is sad the city settled rather than fight it. I assume that the economic climate is what drove the decision to do so. It was cheaper than drawing it out, which was, in reality exactly what should have been done.
The city's mistake here is to set a precedent that the family of criminals killed by police is entitled to a settlement.
I am not a policeman and have no cops in my family, but I respect what they do and the decisions they make. If I were one to think they needed to change their approach to a job I know little about I would join them and stop posting my opinions on a comment board.
you liberal fools just don't get it.
this crazy woman drove over there looking for a fight. SHE was the aggressor. SHE pulled the knife. SHE came at the officer with the knife.
I was talking to another liberal fool on this and she stated, "well the cop should've just shot the knife out of her hand!"
give me a frickin' break. obviously she'd been watching too much TV.
I suppose the cop should've just tried to wrestle the knife away from this crazy woman? because apparently you all think police are paid to only use their guns AFTER they've been actually shot or stabbed.
get a grip. the family and lawyer just won the lawsuit lottery.
Police now days have so many things like tasers, rubber bullets, flash gernades, the policeman wanted to try his new Glock period.
Stand next to your vehicle with a knife, get shot.
Run away from a taser blast, get shot.
Run away while having your hands cuffed behind your back, get shot in the back.
Any way you slice it, you're going to get shot.
And the inquest jury will justify it.
Hey Desert Rat
You can drive around Henderson as well as North Las Vegas, and Las Vegas until your gas tank runs dry and you won't even have to talk to the cops. If you break the law, sign the ticket and continue driving around until you run out of gas again.If you do something to get shot,tased or put in handcuffs, you probable deserved it. If not, sign the ticket and drive to some scumbag lawyer and pay $250.00-$500.00 per hour to sue the city.
If your half as stupid as the comments you write, pull a gun or knife and make your relatives rich.
I've been a cop for 18 year in Chicago. From what I've seen I'd rather be shot than stabbed.From what I've read I support the officers actions. If this happened here the city would settle for millions. Our department has lost all it's power so many are trying to win the ghetto lottery with a lawsuit that most of us don't do any proactive policing anymore. As a result my city is turning into another Detroit. Our crooked poiticians make yours look like nuns. We have an average of 20 people shot each summer weekend and not by the police.I've never been to Henderson but visit L.V. 6x a year many cops there are extremely rude but please believe me you are better off with a tough police force backed by the politicians than an emasculated one. When that happens the savages take over and all decent citizens lose.
Police Academies train police officers in "the art of intimidation". That's what its all about. Put fear in their heart before they can get the upper hand.
I am not sure that I blame them. The problem is that too many officers are in it because of intimidation. They thrive on it. Some of them are thugs with badges.
I believe they are in the minority (not a reference to race) in most instances, but are certainly the most visible.
Its up to your police department leadership to weed out the bad apples. If Metro has (and I think they do) a problem with officer conduct, then there is a problem at the top.
Don't know enough about Henderson to comment. I will say that Henderson wouldn't have settled for $700,000 unless it was in their best interests. It wasn't all about "court costs", I am sure they felt that they had exposure of at least that much.
The bottom line is that it was a fair settlement, inasmuch as both parties seem to be satisfied with the outcome.
THIS $700,000 SETTLEMENT IS A FRAUD.THIS ALBANIAN FAMILY DON'T DESERVE A PENNY. HIS WIFE PROVOKED AND THREATEN THE OFFICER FIRST. I WOULD HAVE SHOOT HER TEN TIMES.I AM AN IMMIGRANT FROM EUROPE AND I KNOW VERY WELL ALBANIANS,BULGARIANS & F.Y.R.O.M'S; THEY ARE TROUBLEMAKERS AND THIEVES, THAT'S WHY EUROPEAN JAILS ARE FULL OF THEM.
have you seen how much that a hole charges for an icecream or a soda dont buy anything from him he wont post any prices on his truck and doesnt charge the same price everytime hes a crooked sob
Great. This guy is satisfied with the settlement and feels that justice has been served? Marvelous. His cut should be around 400K paid as an annuity at maybe 2 thousand a month for 20 years. Just walk'in around money huh? His lawyer gets his in cash all up front. That sound you hear is the grieving husband being screwed by everyone involved.
Most of you goof balls writing here in favor of this kid cop are of the same mentality he is. I know for a fact some of you are or were goof ball cops yourselves. A small woman on her knees, with her hands in the air is no threat to a normal person, but, it is to the retards that are hired here as cops. Where was the knife the goof balls said she had? Nuff said.
@ls1
I had the police nearly kick my door down last year and conviscate my home so they could put a sniper on my roof while they issued an arrest warrant to someone across the street. I dont know what he was accused of put they pushed the 'dangerous' man out of the house in a wheelchair. At least they didnt shoot him right?