Michigan Appeals Court says more money owed in Ferguson pistol-whipping case

DETROIT – The Michigan Court of Appeals on Friday says a former employee of Detroit contractor Bobby Ferguson is entitled to more money from a 2004 pistol-whipping case.

What happened

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Kennedy Thomas worked for Ferguson's construction firm, Ferguson Enterprises.

In 2005, he sued Ferguson for assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Thomas claimed that in October 2004, Ferguson accused Thomas of having an affair with his wife and pistol-whipped him. Thomas said he had to stay in the hospital for 12 days because of the injuries he suffered from Ferguson's attack. Thomas said he was left with permanent health issues like pain, depression and memory problems.

Ferguson pleaded guilty to assault, saying he did hit Thomas in self defense -- but that it was not with a gun.

The money

A jury awarded Thomas $2.6 million. But the judge who heard the case, Wayne Circuit Judge Wendy M. Baxter, reduced the amount to just over $860,000.

In their latest opinion, the appeals court said that because of "mathematical errors," Thomas should get at least $20,000. Additionally, he should get nearly $400,000 because the judge improperly eliminated an award by the civil jury.

Ferguson is currently on trial for corruption charges and is accused of a sweeping pay-to-play scheme with city contracts.

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