Maryland’s Board of Public Works unanimously approved on Wednesday a settlement ending a lawsuit against the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in the aftermath of a fatal police encounter that resulted in the death of Anton Black’s death five years ago. The resolution grants $100,000 to Black’s family and estate, with an additional $135,000 to pay the lawyers representing the Coalition for Justice for Anton Black.

Along with this settlement comes reforms to the Office of the State Medical Examiner. These reforms include establishing explicit guidelines for reviewing in-custody deaths, adopting national standards, ensuring impartial investigations and informing families of their rights regarding autopsy reports, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Maryland. The reforms will apply to all deaths involving law enforcement restraint and those that occur in jails, prisons and juvenile facilities.

The founder of the Coalition for Justice for Anton Black, Richard Potter, praised the board’s approval and said, “This settlement is an excellent first step, but as we engage in this new process community members must stay vigilant and engaged to make sure it’s effective.” He continued, “The best frontline approach to eliminating harm is increasing accountability within.”

In September 2018, Black died after being tased and restrained by police. The autopsy determined that Black suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and attributed it to the the stress from the altercation with the police. It explicitly mentioned no evidence supporting the claim that the officers’ restraint led to Black’s asphyxiation. Conversely, an expert, representing Black’s estate, asserted that asphyxiation was the primary cause of Black’s death.

Black’s family and the coalition’s initiatives resulted in the passage of Anton’s Law by the Maryland General Assembly in 2021. The legislation enhanced transparency regarding police discipline records, allowing community access under Maryland’s Public Information Act.