$1,750,000 Settlement for Family of Police Shooting Victim

Case Summary:

Along with Paul Messing of Kairys, Rudovsky, Messing, Feinberg & Lin LLP, Galfand Berger partner Bradley Smith represented the Estate of Andrew J. Dzwonchyk, Jr. and achieved what is believed to be the largest settlement ever paid by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for a fatal shooting by a Pennsylvania state trooper.

On November 7, 2021, a Pennsylvania state trooper shot and killed Andy Dzwonchyk while Mr. Dzwonchyk was sitting in his Volkswagen Beetle outside the home of his children’s mother, where he had gone to pick up a thermometer for his son who was sick. Mr. Dzwonchyk was unarmed. The killing of Mr. Dzwonchyk garnered national attention after the New York Times reported that the trooper who killed Mr. Dzwonchyk had previously shot and killed three other individuals. This tragic story was part of the New York Times’ Pulitzer Prize-winning series of articles on police shootings of unarmed motorists across the country.

Mr. Dzwonchyk is survived by two young sons. The settlement proceeds will provide for their future needs.