Slager’s Attorneys Seek 42,000 Officers in 9 States to Join Class Action Suit

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Attorneys for former North Charleston police officer Michael Slager are asking tens of thousands of officers across nine southern states to join a class action lawsuit against the Southern States Police Benevolent Association.

The lawsuit comes as activity increased in Slager’s lawsuit against the PBA over the last month.

The PBA dropped Slager from coverage after the former officer shot and killed Walter Scott during a traffic stop in April 2015, alleging he lied to state police investigators and PBA officials in the days after the shooting.

Members of the PBA pay monthly dues to the insurance company with the promise that the officers will have legal representation paid for by the PBA if it’s ever needed. Further, “the PBA would place no cap and no limit on the amount of money that it would spend in defense of a member for attorney’s fees and costs,” the lawsuit reads.

But the suit filed last week alleges the PBA is not licensed as an insurer in any of the nine states it currently offers the Legal Defense Benefit Plan.

The suit was filed by Charleston County Sheriff’s Deputy Donald Stanley, who is named in a federal lawsuit filed by Akiliou Smith. According to Smith, late on the night of Dec. 7, 2015, there was a burglary call made to 911 from a Johns Island home. When deputies arrived, they searched the area, spotted Smith, and kicked in his door after he went inside, he says in the suit.

Smith alleges no one with the sheriff’s office identified themselves before kicking in his door.

The class action suit filed last week does not say whether Stanley’s membership in the PBA was revoked after he and another officer were named in the lawsuit.

Slager federal court hearing rescheduled twice

Slager was slated to appear in federal court for his civil rights case on Wednesday afternoon, but the hearing has been rescheduled for Friday morning. At present, the hearing is set to begin at 11:30 a.m.