Chasse lawsuit: Federal judge denies Portland venue change

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A federal judge has denied a request by the city of Portland for a change of venue in a civil rights lawsuit filed by the family of a mentally ill man who died in police custody.

City attorneys had argued that pretrial publicity over the 2006 death of James Chasse Jr. was so prejudicial that a police officer and the city would not get a fair trial.

U.S. District Judge Garr M. King denied the motion Tuesday, saying there was plenty of prejudicial publicity but the court and attorneys for both sides should be able to seat an impartial jury.

Chasse suffered from schizophrenia and died after more than a dozen ribs were broken when he was tackled during an arrest.

His family has already settled with Multnomah County and an ambulance company but are pushing for a trial against police and the city.
     
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