Updated 4/21/15 @ 7:36pm
Habersham County has reached a $1 million settlement with the family of the toddler critically injured during a drug raid in Cornelia last year. Commission Chairwoman Andrea Harper announced the settlement with the family of Bounkham “Baby Bou Bou” Phonesavanh at the start of Tuesday’s county commission meeting. It’s a structured settlement with most of the insurance payout, $964,000, going to cover Bou Bou’s medical bills and into an annuity for the child. A separate settlement covers damage to the house. In exchange for the financial settlement the Phonesavanh family has agreed not to pursue legal action against the officers involved in the raid or Habersham County.
In announcing the settlement Harper said:
“The events of May 28, 2014 were undoubtedly tragic, affecting the lives of many people in our community. Over the last few months the Board of County Commissioners has sought a way to bring some measure of closure to this matter while doing what is right, both for the Phonesavanh family and the law officers involved. For that reason we have reached a limited settlement agreement with the Phonesavanh’s that allows for a payment to them in exchange for protection of our officers and our county. While it is not a perfect solution, it is one that is as fair as possible under the circumstances. We continue to wish the Phonesavanhs well and pray for the continued recovery of Baby Bou Bou.”
The then 19-month old toddler was living with his family in a relative’s home in Cornelia when drug agents tossed a “flash bang” into the room where he was sleeping. The device landed in Bou Bou’s play pen. The explosion ripped a whole in the child’s mouth and chest. He was in intensive care in an Atlanta hospital for five weeks.
Habersham County leaders relieved after Phonesavanh settlement
Bou Bou’s parents Alecia and Bounkham Phonesevahn filed a lawsuit in federal court earlier this year seeking damages and compensation for the more than $1 million in medical bills the family says they’ve incurred. Habersham County Manager Phil Sutton previously stated that the county could not legally pay the family without a court order.
Visit Now Habersham on Facebook for video of settlement announcement https://www.facebook.com/nowhabersham?ref=bookmarks
