Minneapolis City is set to pay the family of George Floyd a sum of $27 million to settle a civil lawsuit over the man's death in police custody.

Floyd was killed after former police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on the Black man's neck.

Chauvin is in the middle of a murder trial as jury selection continues, according to an Associated Press report.

Floyd family attorney Ben Crump said it was the largest pretrial settlement ever for a civil rights claim. Crump thanked the city leaders for showing their care to George Floyd.

"This makes a statement that George Floyd deserved better than what we witnessed on May 25, 2020, that George Floyd's life mattered, and that by extension, Black lives matter," Crump said as U.S. News reported.

Philonise Floyd, George's brother, said that even if his brother is no longer here, he is with him in his heart.

Council members met privately before they came out with a decision. And then they unanimously vote for the massive payout when they returned to the public session.

The huge settlement amount was even higher than the $20 million the city agreed two years ago to give to the family of a white woman killed by a cop.

L. Chris Stewart said the amount of a settlement changes evaluations and civil rights for a Black individual when they die. Steward is another attorney working with George Floyd's family.

The settlement approved by the council includes $500,000 for the south Minneapolis neighborhood. The said area includes the 38th and Chicago intersection that was blocked with barricades since George Floyd's death.

However, the city did not specifically say how the money will be spent. 

In a federal civil rights lawsuit filed against the city and four police officers  charged in Floyd's death last July, his family said the former cops violated Floyd's rights when they restrained him, and the city allowed the culture of racism, excessive force, and impunity to thrive in its police force.

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George Floyd's Case

George Floyd was announced dead on May 25 after Chauvin pressed his knee on his neck for nine minutes. His death triggered protests in Minneapolis and other states.

The Minnesota Attorney General's Office involved Neal Katyal in the case to help with the prosecution. Katyal was a former solicitor general who has handled cases before the Supreme Court, according to an AFP News report.

Katyal said the trial is a landmark criminal case, saying it is one of the most important in the nation's history.

"The fact that a police officer has been charged criminally for an abusive use of force, that in and of itself is an outlier," Ashley Heiberger, a former police officer now working as an advisor on police practices, said in a report.

The three other police officers involved in the case are Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao. They are set to face lesser charges, and they will be tried separately.

Meanwhile, Chauvin was released from prison on bail in the fall. On Thursday, a judge reinstated a third-degree murder charge against him.

Chauvin is also charged with second-degree manslaughter and second-degree murder. He is seen to plead not guilty to all charges.

His lawyer, Eric Nelson, said that Chauvin acted in accordance with MPD policy, citing his training and duties as a licensed peace officer. Nelson noted that Chauvin only did what he was trained to do at the time.

READ MORE: George Floyd Suspect Derek Chauvin Beats 3rd-Degree Murder Charge Against Him

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