Four Ways Darren Wilson And The Ferguson Police Could Still Be Held Accountable

[Tom Joad]

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/201...able-in-court/

Of the four, this sounds like the best option to me.

Like Don said, it would be "A Good Suit"

Even if there are no criminal charges against Wilson, the Brown family could still bring a civil suit against the officer who shot their son. Recall, for example, that O.J. Simpson was held liable for the wrongful death of two people he was accused of murdering, even though his murder trial ended in an acquittal.

To win a wrongful death suit in the state of Missouri, the Brown family would carry a much lighter legal burden than federal prosecutors would face if they charge Wilson. Missouri law permits wrongful death plaintiffs to prevail if they can prove that “a defendant’s negligence was a direct cause of the victim’s death.” This is a much lower bar to clear than the “reckless disregard” standard that is likely to apply in a federal prosecution. Additionally, while criminal prosecutors must prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, civil plaintiffs generally must only show that a “preponderance of evidence” supports their claim. Perhaps most importantly, the Brown family can bring a suit on their own — or, most likely, with the help of an attorney — without having to go through an official gatekeeper such as a state or federal prosecutor.

read it all here