Judge grants hearing in city's request for new trial in Ostling shooting

A federal judge has scheduled a hearing on the city of Bainbridge Island's request for a new trial in the Ostling shooting case.

The city's legal team asked for a new trial and a stay of the judgement in the civil rights lawsuit after a jury awarded the Ostling family $1 million in damages in June.

The Ostlings had filed a lawsuit against the city last year, prompted by the October 2010 police shooting of Douglas Ostling. Ostling was shot by police after he confronted officers with a double-bladed ax after they came to his family's home to investigate a 911 call.

The jury decision said the Bainbridge Police Department had not adequately trained its officers and the Ostling family's civil rights had been violated because the killing had severed the relationship between Ostling and his parents.

Judge Ronald B. Leighton has set a hearing date of Sept. 26 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, in Tacoma.

Contact Bainbridge Island Review Editor Brian Kelly at editor@bainbridgereview.com or 1-206-842-6613.

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