SANDY, Ore. – The family of a Gresham man killed during a confrontation with police in 2005 has reached a $1 million settlement with Clackamas County, according to Tim Heider, Clackamas County Public Affairs Coordinator.
Fouad Kaady, 27, was shot and killed after his car crashed in flames on a rural road near the town of Sandy after reports of shots fired in the woods.
When police arrived, a confrontation with officers developed and it ended when William Bergin, a Sandy Police officer, and 44-year-old Deputy David Willard of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office shot Kaady. A grand jury later cleared the officers who had tried to stop Kaady by firing their Tasers at him, before firing their guns.
Kaady’s family believed that police overreacted when Kaady was obviously suffering from burns and needed help. But some authorities and witnesses at the time of the shooting had contended that Kaady was acting like he was on drugs.
The family eventually filed wrongful death claims against the deputies and the sheriff’s office. As part of the settlement, the claims will be dismissed in their entirety and Clackamas County’s insurance carrier will fund the settlement, Heider explained.
“This was purely a business decision made by the insurance carrier,” said Michael Patterson, defense counsel for the defendants. “None of the parties admit to liability in this case, and we continue to deny that the defendants engaged in any wrong doing.”
Sheriff Craig Roberts said he was prepared to mount a vigorous defense for the deputies and the agency.
“This case was difficult for all involved,” said Clackamas County Commissioner Ann Lininger. “We continue to support the Sheriff’s Office and all the deputies in the difficult work they do every day.”
