Public Radio for the Piedmont and High Country
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Greensboro reaches $2.57M settlement with family of Marcus Smith

The Smith family in downtown Greensboro in 2015. From left to right: Marcus Smith, Mary Smith, George Smith, and Marcus’ brother Leonard Butler. Photo courtesy of Kim Smith.

The city of Greensboro has settled a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of Marcus Smith. 

The city announced Tuesday it has settled the lawsuit for $2.57 million, with the money going to Smith's parents and his children. 

Smith was picked up by Greensboro police in September 2018. He later died after being immobilized by officers using a controversial restraining method similar to a hogtie. Activists have compared his death to the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and the case shone a spotlight on Greensboro police protocols.

Smith's family filed a federal lawsuit against the city after an autopsy report determined the method of restraint was in part responsible for his death, which was labeled a homicide.

City Attorney Chuck Watts read a statement at this week's City Council meeting saying that in addition to the financial payment, the settlement will also formally acknowledge the agreement with a commemorative plaque stating that "Marcus Deon Smith's life mattered."

Most of the money will be paid by the city of Greensboro, with the remainder by Guilford County.

Watts said that because legal details have not been finalized, there will be no further immediate public comment.

Neal Charnoff joined 88.5 WFDD as Morning Edition host in 2014. Raised in the Catskill region of upstate New York, he graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1983. Armed with a liberal arts degree, Neal was fully equipped to be a waiter. So he prolonged his arrested development bouncing around New York and L.A. until discovering that people enjoyed listening to his voice on the radio. After a few years doing overnight shifts at a local rock station, Neal spent most of his career at Vermont Public Radio. He began as host of a nightly jazz program, where he was proud to interview many of his idols, including Dave Brubeck and Sonny Rollins. Neal graduated to the news department, where he was the local host for NPR's All Things Considered for 14 years. In addition to news interviews and features, he originated and produced the Weekly Conversation On The Arts, as well as VPR Backstage, which profiled theater productions around the state. He contributed several stories to NPR, including coverage of a devastating ice storm. Neal now sees the value of that liberal arts degree, and approaches life with the knowledge that all subjects and all art forms are connected to each other. Neal and his wife Judy are enjoying exploring North Carolina and points south. They would both be happy to never experience a Vermont winter again.

Support quality journalism, like the story above,
with your gift right now.

Donate