Redding Settles Wrongful Death Suit With Family Of Peter Valenti

REDDING, CT – April will mark three years since Redding Police arrived at the home of Peter Valenti, Jr., saw him hanging in a building on the property, and mistook him for a dummy. April will mark three years since Peter Valenti died – something that maybe didn't have to happen.

On Thursday, Dec, 20, just days before Christmas, Valenti's family settled their wrongful death lawsuit against the city.

While one of the family's lawyers tell Patch that the amount is confidential, the amount is said to be substantial enough that Valenti's son, who was left without both parents when Peter died, will be provided for for the course of his life.

Get all the latest information on what's happening in your community by signing up for Patch's newsletters and breaking news alerts

Valenti's wife, Paula, had died of a sudden asthma attack in Oct., 2014.

Last year, Patch detailed step by step how Redding police had handled – or mishandled – their response at the Valenti home, how the police had kept an EMT from examining Peter for nearly one half-hour and when they finally did, he discovered that there was still cardiac activity.

The order to keep the EMT away came from Chief of Police Douglas Fuchs who has since been allowed to retire.

The removal of Fuchs was an important step for the family.

One of the family's lawyers tells Patch that they are thankful to have the case resolved and especially thankful to the EMT who came forward with the story of what had happened.

Photo of Peter and Paula Valenti courtesy the Valenti family.