DETROIT – Charles Pugh rang up a tab of $600,000 through his civil trial.
The first $350,000 is the amount the Detroit Public Schools district agreed to pay the young man, whose initials are K.S. The district did that so it could walk away from the case.
The next $250,000 is what the jury ordered Pugh to pay K.S. on his own after ruling in K.S.'s favor on two counts. Pugh's attorney filed paperwork with the court this week saying he doesn't believe his client has to pay that money.
Here's his reasoning:
"Plaintiff suffered a single injury ... as a general rule, only one recovery for a single injury is allowed under Michigan law. The amount that a plaintiff recovers from one defendant is set off against a subsequent verdict obtained against a codefendant."
Bill Seikaly, K.S.'s attorney, disagrees whole-heartedly.
"Charles Pugh is doing what he has done throughout this case, which is to decide he will not take responsibility for his actions," said Seikaly.
Seikaly said this is actually much more complicated than it sounds. However, he said in the end Pugh's legal team is citing law which hasn't been in effect for about 15 years.
"On that issue Mr. Pugh is just wrong. he doesn't get the protection of the school district's payment," Seikaly said.
Seikaly is asking Pugh to pay up immediately. Local 4 reached out to Pugh's attorney but has not heard back. This case goes back to court on Monday.