Mass. court orders new hearing in brutality case

BOSTON (AP) - More than 13 years after a convenience store owner accused a Springfield police officer of beating her and her adult children, the highest court in Massachusetts has ordered a new hearing to assess damages in the case.

Lucy Jones contended in a lawsuit that Officer Ronald Boykan burst into her store in 1999, forced his way into a restricted area, arrested Jones' two children and beat all three of them.

Jones and her children said they lost their store and suffered physical and emotional injuries.  In 2004, a judge issued a default judgment and ordered the city to pay $1 million in damages.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Judicial Court ordered a new hearing to determine damages against the city and Boykan.

The court found that a lower court judge's original assessment of damages was inadequate.