Louisiana State Police Agree to $4.8 Million Settlement in Ronald Greene Wrongful Death Case

Nearly seven years after the Black motorist’s violent death during a 2019 traffic stop, the state has reached a settlement — but lawmakers must still approve the payout.

Family of Ronald Greene reaches $4.8 million settlement with Louisiana State Police

Baton Rouge, La. — Louisiana State Police have agreed to pay $4.8 million to settle a federal wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Ronald Greene, the Black motorist who died in 2019 after a violent arrest that was captured on body camera footage.

The tentative settlement, reached Tuesday, comes almost exactly seven years after Greene’s death on May 10, 2019, following a high-speed chase near Monroe. It would resolve claims against several troopers involved in the incident and end years of legal battles — but it still requires approval from the Louisiana Legislature’s budget committee.

A Case That Shocked the Nation

Ronald Greene, 49, was pulled over for a traffic violation. What followed, according to body camera video released years later, was a brutal encounter in which troopers punched, kicked, and repeatedly tased the unarmed man as he pleaded for his life.

Initial reports from the Louisiana State Police claimed Greene died in a car crash. That story fell apart when the graphic body camera footage surfaced, showing troopers dragging Greene’s limp body and one officer saying, “I hope this guy ain’t got no more fight in him.”

The video sparked national outrage and comparisons to the George Floyd case. Greene’s family filed a federal lawsuit in 2020, accusing troopers of excessive force and a cover-up.

Details of the $4.8 Million Deal

According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the $4.8 million settlement would resolve claims involving troopers John Clary, Dakota DeMoss, Kory York, and Chris Hollingsworth, who has since died. The agreement includes no admission of liability by the state or the officers.

The payout would go to Greene’s daughter, who was a minor at the time of his death and is now an adult.

“This has been a long, painful road for our family,” Greene’s daughter said in a statement released through her attorneys. “No amount of money can bring my father back, but we hope this settlement brings some measure of accountability and helps prevent this from happening to another family.”

Still One More Hurdle

Even with the agreement in place, the settlement is not final. It must be approved by the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, which controls state spending. Lawmakers are expected to take up the matter in the coming weeks.

If approved, the payout would come from state funds and mark one of the largest settlements ever paid by the Louisiana State Police in a use-of-force case.

Broader Impact on Louisiana State Police

The Ronald Greene case became a flashpoint in ongoing debates about police accountability in Louisiana. It led to firings, demotions, and criminal charges against several troopers — though most cases ended without prison time.

Civil rights advocates say the settlement, while significant, does not go far enough without deeper reforms inside the Louisiana State Police.

“This is a step toward justice, but real change requires more than a check,” said one Baton Rouge-based civil rights attorney who has followed the case closely. “It requires transparency, better training, and consequences that actually deter misconduct.”

What Happens Next

The budget committee is expected to review the settlement in the next several weeks. If approved, the state will issue payment, and the federal lawsuit will be dismissed.

Greene’s family has said they will continue pushing for full transparency and policy changes within Louisiana law enforcement.

For many Louisianans, the case remains a painful reminder of the broken trust between communities and the officers sworn to protect them.