Paula Bryant (top, center) releases butterflies April 30 in honor of her daughter, Ma'Khia Bryant, after the funeral for the 16-year-old at the First Church of God in Columbus. Bryant was fatally shot April 20 by a Columbus police officer during an altercation. (Paul Vernon | AP)
COLUMBUS — Ohio House Democrats are preparing legislation that would allow law enforcement officers to be sued and would require them to personally pay a percentage of the judgment.
The bill, if introduced, passed and signed, would end the defense of qualified immunity for police officers. The defense first was developed by the U.S. Supreme Court and later clarified in a 1982 decision that said qualified immunity applies if the government official acted in good faith.