Court Support for Debbie Novak and Family
Sept. 22, 2022 UPDATE: On the day their wrongful death suit was scheduled to go to trial, Debbie Novak and her family settled with the city of Spokane for $4 million.
Published 9/14/22
For WCPA, reducing police violence and increasing police accountability is the heart and soul of our mission and we are centered on families who have lost loved ones to police violence. One of the ways we support families across the state is to show up for them during difficult times. This month we are organizing court support for the family of David Novak in Spokane.
Court support for victims and survivors of police violence turns the tables on the intimidation and narrative many families have experienced as they pursue justice for their loved ones through the legal system.
WCPA members will be in Spokane supporting Debbie Novak and her family during the trial of the officers who killed David Novak and we are putting out the call to show up.
The ask is for you to attend, find friends to attend, and share this information with your networks.
The trial will be held at the Spokane County Courthouse, 1116 W. Broadway in Spokane. This effort is a time commitment and to spread the work we hope people can commit to at least one day during the term of the trial. The trial is estimated to last three to four weeks, and will take place daily beginning Sept. 19th from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Spokane has a long history of police use of violence and civil lawsuits are a key part of accountability. The objective of a lawsuit like this is to get a measure of fairness and justice for the family, to honor the life of the deceased, and to leverage the consequences of litigation to change police culture.
Why is court support important?
· The police have easy access to the press. They tell their stories, skewed in their favor. Court supporters message a counter narrative and challenge the status quo.
· Police fill the court both in the courtroom and the corridors. This is intimidating to families and is a tactic to influence the judge and jury. Having many people there in person in solidarity with the family helps counter this.
· The courtroom is an unfamiliar place for most people. Family members need to know they are not alone. They need people witnessing, listening, and sitting with them to help shoulder the trauma.
Please attend or find friends or colleagues in the area to attend. Contact info@wcforpa.org for more details.
Read to learn more:
https://knock-la.com/david-sullivan-court-support-police-violence/
