By Carol Taylor and Julia James
Dallas Morning News
Reprinted – by Texas Metro News

A federal civil jury decided for the Jean family, but the former Dallas police officer is still serving 10 years in prison for murder.

Update:

3:21 p.m. Nov. 22, 2024: This story was updated with additional comments.

This week, a federal jury awarded $98.65 million to the family of a Dallas man killed in his own apartment in 2018 by a Dallas police officer who mistook it for her own.

The Dallas Police Department fired Amber Guyger a little more than two weeks after she fatally shot 26-year-old Botham Jean on Sept. 6, 2018, in his apartment in the Cedars area of Dallas. She was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison. She was denied parole last month.

Jean’s family sued Guyger and the city of Dallas. The federal lawsuit alleged Guyger used excessive force and violated Jean’s constitutional rights, and that poor police department policies led to his death. The city was later dismissed from the suit.

The Jeans’ legal team made sure to clarify that this case wasn’t just about that September night six years ago. It was also about the joy Jean brought to the world. It was also about accountability, they said.

“We want to make sure when Amber Guyger gets out of prison that … she’s not going to have a normal life. She’s not going to be able to capitalize on any fame she may have gotten from this case,” Daryl Washington, an attorney for the family, said.

In closing arguments, attorneys for Botham Jean’s family asked the jury to send a message that Dallas County residents “are going to be safe in our homes.” Guyger waived her right to participate in the trial.

So how would she even begin to pay the nearly $100 million?

What does the jury verdict say?

The jury verdict awarded:

• $38.65 million to the family in compensatory damages, which attempt to make up for injuries to the plaintiffs. For the Jeans, that covered Botham’s projected future earnings, his pain and suffering, his loss of life, loss of companionship for his parents and mental anguish for his parents.
• $60 million in punitive damages, which are designed to punish or deter and awarded when there is malice or reckless indifference to the rights of others.

The verdict did not address how the money would be paid.

What the Jeans say

Bertrum and Allison Jean, Botham’s parents, said after the trial they were not focused on the money and collecting the award, but on accountability for Guyger and having Jean’s contributions to the world recognized.

“We’ve gotten the question over and over ‘How are y’all going to collect from Amber Guyger?’” Washington said. “That was not important. What was important was holding Amber Guyger civilly liable for what she did to Botham. I think this jury sent a message loud and clear that they are not going to tolerate police brutality.”

The Jeans said the verdict symbolizes what Botham Jean brought to the world, adding they are grateful other people saw that value. Allison Jean said any money they do recover will go to the Botham Jean Foundation.

“Today is a day that I’m a bit consoled,” Bertrum Jean said. “I’m still heartbroken over the loss of my son … but today I think justice was served and we are very thankful, and we pray that it will be a lesson.”

This story, originally published in The Dallas Morning News, is reprinted as part of a collaborative partnership between The Dallas Morning News and Texas Metro News. The partnership seeks to boost coverage of Dallas’ communities of color, particularly in southern Dallas.