U.S. Middle District Judge John E. Jones III ordered mediation in a civil rights lawsuit involving the death of a motorist after a collision with a police cruiser in Williamsport, Pennsylvania in the United States.  The suit was brought by the estate of the deceased, James David Robinson.

The order came at the request of the city and the police department on behalf of the defendant, Officer Jonathan DePrenda.  The city, also named as a defendant in the case, requested the mediation to ascertain the possibility of a settlement before engaging in a lengthy and expensive court battle.

The case is an interesting interpretation of a civil rights violation, accusing the officer of being indifferent to Mr. Robinson’s constitutional rights by failing to exercise due care and driving at excessive speed.  The city is accused of failing to adequately train the officer.  State police report that Officer DePrenda was driving at approximately 100 miles per hour when his cruiser hit Mr. Robinson’s car, killing him.  Officer DePrenda is also facing a criminal court case on charges of vehicular homicide and involuntary manslaughter.  He is currently out on $25,000 bail but has been suspended from the police force without pay pending the outcome of the court cases.

If nothing comes of the ordered mediation, the civil rights case will proceed to court in October, 2015.  It is not clear whether the motivation of Robinson’s estate is financial compensation or to compel the city to have improved training in the future.