Archer Amorosi family settles $450,000 privacy lawsuit against Carver County

Carver County agreed to a $450,000 legal settlement with parents of 16-year-old, Archer Amorosi, who claimed their son’s privacy and reputation was damaged after his name was released following his death two years ago when Carver County Sheriff’s Deputies shot him.

The Carver County Commission voted to approve the settlement Tuesday, with Donald and Kara Amorosi, who claimed data privacy laws were broken when Carver County Attorney, Mark Metz, released Archer’s name, details of his death and referenced his mental health issues.

"They shouldn’t be allowed to release information that’s private, just for sensationalism," said Kara Amorosi. "That is disgusting and it is just wrong."

Donald Amorosi told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS he met with County Attorney, Mark Metz, within a day of the release of the public information, and asked the county not to name his son or get into details about how he died and his personal, mental health challenges.

"But, they did it anyway and were not very empathetic to what we were experiencing," said Donald Amorosi. "I have never seen anyone, during all of this, act as insensitive as they did."

Attorney, Paul Dworak, of Newmark, Storms and Dworak, represents the Amorosi family and he told KSTP the family has not yet decided whether it will file a wrongful death lawsuit in their son’s death.

"There is a limit of six years from the time of death to file legal action for wrongful death," said Dworak. "It’s been two years, so the family is still considering all the options, but has not yet made a final decision."

Paul C. Dworak, Esq.

NEWMARK STORMS DWORAK LLC

In July 2018, Carver County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a disturbance call at the Amorosi home in Chanhassen and that’s when investigators say the deputies encountered Archer Amorosi with a weapon.

Full KSTP coverage on the death of Archer Amorosi

Investigators concluded the shooting death of Archer, by Sheriff’s Deputies, was justified because Archer had a weapon, ran toward them and failed to comply with commands to stop and drop his weapon.

Carver County issued this statement, Tuesday, after the settlement was finalized:

"Carver County’s insurer, the Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust, has agreed to pay $270,000 to Donald and Kara Amorosi and the County has agreed to pay $180,000 in attorney’s fees to counsel for the Amorosis in exchange for the dismissal of this lawsuit. There is no admission of liability or wrongdoing with respect to the County’s release of data related to the incident involving the death of A.T.A., and County Attorney Mark Metz and Sheriff Jason Kamerud were separately and voluntarily dismissed for the payment of zero dollars. The County maintains the data that was released is public information, but also recognizes this is a cost effective resolution which brings closure to this matter and avoids the high cost of continuing litigation and the uncertainty of a lengthy jury trial and appeals process.”

Archer’s family started a non-profit to help other young athletes in their struggle with mental illness. You can find a link to Archers Aim here.