The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
The city has told the family of the homeless man run over and killed on the beach that instead of a financial settlement, it will create a program to fight homelessness on behalf of the victim, Michael Knockett.
"In honor of Mr. Knockett's memory and in order to be of greater assistance to others who confront homelessness in Virginia Beach, the city will significantly increase the resources available to assist homeless men and women," City Attorney Mark Stiles said.
The family's lawyer, Carl La Mondue, said his clients don't want a program and feel the city's action is disingenuous.
"They feel offended by it," he said. "It's basically a tactic by the city to soften the response to this outrageous incident by appearing to care for homeless people."
Knockett was run over and killed on the beach by a trash truck driver at around 8 a.m. June 28 while sleeping in a chair. The family and La Mondue told city officials in a letter earlier this month that they expect a lawsuit could cost the city $25 million.
City Council members, who were briefed on the homeless program idea in a closed-session meeting earlier this week, declined to comment on it.
"This is a legal matter, and Mark is the spokesperson," Mayor Will Sessoms said.
Stiles said the city is moving forward with the program but won't name it after Knockett if the family doesn't want that.
"We won't steal his name," Stiles said. "We're not doing this to settle a lawsuit. We're doing it because we think it's the right thing to do."
The city is soliciting advice on what the program should be. It's likely to be targeted to help single homeless people, said Andy Friedman, director of housing and neighborhood preservation. He said no decision has been made on how much to spend on it.
Stiles said the $25 million figure cited by La Mondue was too high to make negotiations on a financial settlement productive.
The city paid $16,460 for Knockett's funeral.
Pastor Deshawn Tatem, Knockett's stepson and the family's spokesman, said he wanted to hear more about the city's plan before commenting on it.
La Mondue said the city's plan focused too much on Knockett's time as a homeless man. Family members have said Knockett, who was 52 when he died, had been homeless about three years.
"The family doesn't want his legacy to be as a homeless man with his name on a program," he said. "His life took on a bigger meaning to his family and friends."
Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122, aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com
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They don't need another homeless program.
What they need is a new motto for their workers that says:
"HEY, IDIOT, SHUT UP AND WATCH WHERE YOU'RE DRIVING!"
Had it been a tourist...
the outcome would be different. It has nothing to do with color but it definitely has something to do with his status in society. For some reason people look at homeless as less than human.
As far as his family not being there for him, how do you know they didn't try? I have an uncle who lived homeless by his own choice. The family did what they could to support him, but because of his mental illness caused by Vietnam, there was nothing that could be done. Do you know the family tried to get my uncle help, he refused. The police wanted to lock him up for loitering but there was no help for him.
But trust and believe had ANYONE run over my uncle, there would be hell to pay.
Homeless Man
The main purpose of a lawsuit is to replace lost income over the years. Nobody ever wants to lose a relative but there was no mention about any lose of income to anybody. I would not want any of my family members to get rich off of me if I had to be homeless and nobody came forward to help by offering me a place to stay or a some help in finding a job. I'm sure Michael Knockett would not want any one to get rich off of his pain and suffering when he had to live on the streets. 25 million is extremely greedy. There are probably strangers out there who have done more for Michael than his own family and I don't hear about them coming forward to claim their loss.
EXACTLY!
Not saying the family isn't saddened by his death....but what financial injury did they sustain that justifies a $25M payout? If memorializing him is the issue...and they really do want to do something for the homeless...then the money needs to go to an agency experienced and able to make that difference.
Something to think about... Really think.
While I like the city caring enough for homeless to want to enact better programs for them, there is a huge elephant in the room few are seeing.
The facts of the matter are this:
A person on the beach during it's open hours, was struck and killed by a city worker driving a garbage truck. A person who was stationary, in a chair, in bright cloth. This could have been a person on a towel sunbathing, a child building a sand castle, or a person sitting in sand, reflecting, or looking out to the horizon & listening to their I-Pod. The economic status of an individual has no bearing when you look at the plain facts: A beach goer, who was not tresspassing since it was during hours when the beach was officially open for sand and water use, was run over by a city truck. All other details are distractions. The city needs to take hold of its responsibility and create, and keep enforced , new measures to make sure this never happens again.
The Wrong Detail
From the beginning, this story got the wrong heading. It should simply have been " Man on beach killed by city truck." The fact that he was homeless is as unimportant as knowing whether he is a Democrat, blond, or a gifted golfer. These details would not explain why this accident happened. How he lived, how his family interacted with him, his reason for being on the beach...none of that is any of our business. Hasn't anyone else been asleep in a chair on the beach at 8:00 AM?
Amen!
There has to be accountability for taking another human's right. "not seeing" him is not a defense.
Homeless Jerks
The family's lawyer, Carl La Mondue, said his clients don't want a program and feel the city's action is disingenuous......Of course not, they want money. We don't need more programs, especially for the homeless.....TELL THEM TO JUST GO HOME. The run-over-guy had a home. The accident brought the relatives from the woodwork like roaches. Now they want to become rich over the death of "their loved one." Gimme a break. And besides, I didn't think the city did anything wrong.....RIGHT?
DId you Really Love Him?
I am so sick of hearing about this. The man Mr Knockett was sleeping on the beach and an accident happened. Sorry about that but if the people I keep seeing on tv getting loud claiming they loved Michael Knockett then why was he considered homeless. It seems to me you didnt give a rats a*** about the man to give him a place to sleep but now that you think you can try to get 25 million from the city of Virginia Beach. NO WAY!! The city needs to stop even considering whether they might need to make a payout and also to create a homeless program in the man's name. Many of the homelss on the beach are bums who could work if they wanted to but are using the bleeding hearts to get money. I say "help yourself before you expect others to help you."
AMEN!!
AMEN!!