Mark Domino Lawsuit: From $5M Claim to $25K Settlement

The Mark Domino lawsuit ended in September 2020 when the city of Clarkston, Washington, dropped all criminal charges against him and paid him $25,000 through its insurance carrier, and Domino in return withdrew the $5 million tort claim he had filed over his June 2019 arrest in a Walmart parking lot.¹

The Arrest That Started It

On June 24, 2019, Clarkston police responded to a 911 call about a suspected car prowler at the local Walmart. The caller described a Black man, about 5-foot-11, with a black backpack and a greyish-blue t-shirt, seen opening three doors of a silver vehicle.²

Domino had just finished a shift at that same Walmart and was walking from his vehicle to his motorcycle when two officers stopped him, telling him he matched the description.³ He questioned the stop and refused to hand over identification. “I know I haven’t done anything. Period,” he told the officers.² Officers then wrestled him to the ground, tased him, and handcuffed him.

The Charges He Faced

Domino was never charged with car prowling. He was charged with two misdemeanors: resisting arrest and obstructing a law enforcement officer under Washington’s RCW 9A.76.020.⁴²³

Domino turned down a 90-day deferment deal from the city prosecutor that would eventually have wiped the charge from his record. He wanted the case dismissed outright. Representing himself at first, he filed a motion for complete dismissal.²

The $5 Million Tort Claim

Domino filed a $5 million tort claim against the city of Clarkston, alleging excessive force and false arrest.⁵ He later retained Chicago civil rights attorney Julian Johnson.³ The case drew community advocacy, including a “Justice for Mark Domino” petition on Change.org and a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his legal costs.⁶

How the Case Was Resolved

On September 22, 2020, more than a year after the arrest, the city dropped all criminal charges against Domino at a District Court pretrial hearing after the city attorney requested a conference. The city paid Domino $25,000, funded by its insurance carrier rather than the general fund, and Domino withdrew his $5 million tort claim.¹

According to Domino’s attorney, the city’s insurance carrier played a significant role in pushing the case toward settlement. The resolution also included a meeting between Domino and the Clarkston Police Department to discuss future protocols for handling similar situations.³

What Each Side Said

City attorney Todd Richardson told the Lewiston Tribune, “This has been a difficult case that has been made harder for all parties by the political atmosphere in our nation,” and added, “I have nothing but respect for Mr. Domino.”¹

Domino said the fight was never about money. “This was never about the money for me. Dismissing the charges is something they could have done from day one. The main thing I wanted was an apology, but instead I was persecuted,” he told the Tribune. Petition organizers noted the settlement included no formal apology from the city.¹⁶

1
Giglio-Brady List (Lewiston Tribune reprint). Clarkston Drops Charges Against Domino
2
Fox 28 Savannah. Man Taken Down by Police in Walmart Parking Lot Wants Complete Dismissal
3
Julian Johnson Law. The Case of Mark Domino
4
Fox 28 Savannah. Man Taken Down by Police in Walmart Parking Lot Wants Complete Dismissal
5
Lewiston Morning Tribune. Man Arrested in Walmart Parking Lot Files Tort Claim
6
Change.org. Justice for Mark Domino