Seattle Denied Retrial in $30.5M CHOP Death Lawsuit, Plans Appeal

The city argues the jury should have divided blame between Seattle and the unidentified shooter.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 12:20am

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A quiet, cinematic painting of an empty street corner in downtown Seattle, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of civic unease and political tension.The City of Seattle's appeal of a $30.5 million verdict over a 2020 protest death aims to negotiate a lower settlement, exposing lingering divisions between local government and community groups.Seattle Today

A judge has denied the City of Seattle's request for a retrial in the $30.5 million lawsuit over the 2020 death of Antonio Mays Jr. during the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP). The city plans to appeal the ruling, which found Seattle negligent in its response to the incident. The city argued there was a high chance Mays would have died regardless of medical care and that the jury should have divided blame between the city and the unidentified shooter.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing tensions between the city government and community groups over the handling of high-profile incidents during the 2020 protests. The large financial penalty could have significant budget implications for Seattle, leading it to pursue an appeal to potentially reduce the damages.

The details

In January, a King County jury found the City of Seattle negligent in the 2020 death of 16-year-old Antonio Mays Jr., who was killed during the CHOP protests. The jury determined the city did not respond quickly enough, which led to Mays' death. As a result, Mays' father and estate were awarded $30.5 million in damages. The city has now been denied its request for a retrial, but plans to appeal the ruling. In its request, the city argued there was at least a 90% chance Mays would have died regardless of medical care, and that the jury should have divided blame between the city and Mays' unidentified shooter.

  • The incident occurred in June 2020 during the CHOP protests in Seattle.
  • In January 2026, a King County jury found the City of Seattle negligent and awarded $30.5 million in damages.
  • In April 2026, the city's request for a retrial was denied, but it plans to appeal the ruling.

The players

Antonio Mays Jr.

A 16-year-old who was killed during the 2020 CHOP protests in Seattle.

Antonio Mays

The father of Antonio Mays Jr. and the plaintiff in the $30.5 million lawsuit against the City of Seattle.

City of Seattle

The defendant in the $30.5 million lawsuit, found negligent in its response to the 2020 CHOP incident that led to Mays Jr.'s death.

Chris Davis

An attorney from the Davis Law Group who warned the city may use the appeal process to negotiate a lower settlement.

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What they’re saying

“What often happens when the city appeals a verdict like this, it can take two to three years before the appeal is heard and resolved. And during that time, the city may use that appeal as leverage to try to negotiate a settlement for less than $30.5 million.”

— Chris Davis, Attorney, Davis Law Group

What’s next

The City of Seattle plans to appeal the ruling to the Washington State Court of Appeals, which could take two to three years to resolve. During the appeal process, the city may attempt to negotiate a lower settlement with the Mays family.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the City of Seattle and community groups over the handling of high-profile incidents during the 2020 protests. The large financial penalty could have significant budget implications for the city, leading it to pursue an appeal in an effort to reduce the damages.