Minneapolis has agreed to pay $600,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a woman who says ex-Officer Derek Chauvin used excessive force against her in January 2020. The incident happened just four months before Chauvin killed George Floyd in a similar manner.

Patty Day, a former city employee, claimed in her lawsuit that Chauvin and his partner violently pulled her from her minivan after she got stuck in the snow. She was drunk and dealing with personal struggles at the time. Day alleged that Chauvin kneeled on her back after she was handcuffed, causing injuries. The lawsuit described this as "his signature pose"—a chilling echo of what would happen to Floyd later.

A drunken driving charge against Day was eventually dropped after a judge ruled the officers had no probable cause to arrest her.

The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved the settlement on Thursday. Of the $600,000, $175,000 will go to Day, while her attorneys will receive $425,000. This adds to the city’s already significant payouts for police misconduct cases involving Chauvin, which now total over $36 million.

Day’s attorney, Katie Bennett, said the settlement holds the officers accountable but emphasized the need for broader policing reforms.

Chauvin is currently serving time in federal prison for his role in Floyd’s murder and for violating Floyd’s civil rights. The case continues to highlight ongoing issues around police accountability and racial injustice in the U.S.

While the settlement brings some closure to Day’s case, it also underscores the lasting impact of Chauvin’s actions on the Minneapolis community and beyond.