Botham Jean’s family has received an award of nearly $100 million in the civil trial against former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger.
Jurors found that Guyger acted with malice or was reckless in fatally shooting Botham Jean in 2018.
She opened fire at the unarmed 26-year-old Saint Lucia national, claiming that she mistook his apartment for hers and believed he was a burglar.
The $98.6 million award in the wrongful death civil suit includes about $60 million in punitive damages and $38.6 million in compensatory damages.
“I am still heartbroken over the loss of my son,” Fox News quoted Bertram Jean, Botham’s father, saying.
“Today I think justice was served, and we are very thankful, and we pray it will be a lesson for the authorities.”
Botham’s mother, Allison, said: “It’s been tiring for me flying back to St. Lucia to Dallas so many times, but today’s verdict really gives me some consolation that you saw the value of Botham.
“Even though he is not with us, this verdict tells us that his light still shines down on us in America and in Saint Lucia and all over the world,” Attorney Benjamin Crump told reporters regarding Botham.
Amber Guyger, who was in uniform when she fatally shot Botham Jean, was subsequently fired from the Dallas Police Department, found guilty of murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
She was up for parole but it has been denied.
The former Dallas police officer, although named as a defendant, did not appear in court for the wrongful death suit.
Photo: Botham Jean’s parents and attorneys.
Almost $100,000,000. The defendant is locked up in jail and whenever she gets out, will she have anything close to $100? 🤷♀️🤷♀️
St. Lucia’s judicial system should learn from the US judiciary. There was due process and swift justice for Mr. Jean. If this had happened in St. Lucia, there would never have been any justice. The Jean family would be going up and down to court until their death without any justice. In contrast, everything is settled in the US within six years. PM Pierre, you and your government must pressure our judiciary and correct the faulty judicial system. This would be the first step in the right direction.
Bravo!
I am happy for the Jean family. Hope this compensation brings closure in this saga.
This is a tragic story. But that money will never be paid. It’s a symbolic award.
Justice is served …finally
LIFE IS PRECIOUS !!!!!!!!!
I strongly believe Botham would’ve wanted some of this money donated or invested in the country that his parents love so much “St.Lucia!
@Crow and Anonymous, you are the only ones in the comments so far who seem to understand the situation. The rest are clueless. Question for the others, when will Guyger pay? Ohhhhhhhhh idiots!!!!
As much as I sympathize with the family no amount of money can count to Botham’s value or any living being so as a matter of fact Mrs.Alison you can take that statement back.
Just Asking
That’s a lot of freaking Money.
Just wondering how much will the Legal Team Get?
We have a bunch of idiots in the comments. Crow, anonymous and Mee Lee. 1. Guyger didn’t commit fraud so she would still have the savings she had minus what she used during this trial, but that’s al her fault anyway. 2. The state will pay the 100million settlement not Guyger, they will pay don’t be foolish.
Oh my bad, it was a civil suit against the office well I guess it they own Guyger for the rest of her life since won’t be able to pay that off.
That’s God!.
He promised never to leave you nor forsake us.!!
Some of you in the comments are seriously too much – the woman tragically lost her son to an idiot who should have NEVER been in law enforcement in the first place. No amount of compensation from wherever/whomever it comes will bring closure as their son is gone. As far as the attorney – thank God he DECIDED to represent the family as he is a man who is compassionate about justice. Therefore, whatever he gets for representation he certainly deserves.
You all need to stop counting coins and pray that you never have to go through anything even close to this tragedy.
I am happy at the fact that the Jean family had judgement in their favor and thus bringing this matter to a close. However, while this judgement seems fair and deserving it does seem like the Jean family will receive and compensation in the near future. This is because the $98.65 million awarded in the civil case is to be paid by Amber Guyger personally, as she was sued individually for her actions. The state or city is not liable for this amount because the lawsuit targeted her specifically, not the Dallas Police Department or any governmental entity. Collecting the full amount from Guyger, however, might be challenging due to her financial situation.
@winning don’t talk gibberish, Botham’ dad is clearly stating on here…”let that be a lesson for the authorities”,obviously the system is the one to suck that salt and pay their dues as they responsible for any unjustified actions committed by anyone in their line of duty within their jurisdiction..same thing with Derek Chauvin and George Floyed family was rewarded a handsome undisclosed amount for wrongful death and it was not from Chauvin…..some of you just can’t fathom the Jean’s being rewarded such chunk of money and that’s in U.S dollar…..if everything goes according to plan the Jean’s will happen to be the wealthiest citizens to ever grace st.lucia’s soil..no Chastenet, no DuBoulay,no Devoe’s
There is no chance Guyger will pay any of that award. She is in prison. And having been a police officer, she likely had little money to begin with. Any assets she had have no doubt already been spent to pay her legal expenses long ago. Even if she had some private liability insurance coverage, someone of that station here in the US would likely have less than one million of coverage. This was a symbolic judgment and will not ever be paid.
OK…I did my research,it’s all on Guyger.
Those people will be even richer than the Chastanet family . I am sure that they are happy to have so much money they can afford to buy a house at Cabot and drive Mercedes Benz
@JohnPublic I am happy to see that you did your research and thereafter, corrected yourself. The initial lawsuit against the police department was disallowed, since Guyger was no longer on duty at the time of the incident. This is why the lawsuit subsequently targeted her and her estate.
There is one observation I made. Idiots calling idiots idiots. It takes an idiot to call another idiot. Just many idiots out there,
No one can replace the life of another and no amount of money can pay for,
Habakkuk is saying :
The LORD’S Answer
Then the LORD replied
Beat your breast ❗
“Write down the revelation and make it plain on tables so that a herald may run with it..
For the revelation awaits to speaks of it end and will not prove false..
“What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and loose his own soul ❓
Because he is as greedy as the grave and death is never satisfied with the price of blood..
“Woe to him who build with the price of bloodshed and establishes (invest),
The stones of the wall will cry out and the beans of the woods will, ‘ECHO IT ‘…
DEATH HAS NO POWER FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS,
FOR THE HAND OF GOD IS OVER THEM ‼️