PROFILE
BENDING the ARC JEFF STORMS’ FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
It’s a Monday evening in April in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. A balloon release and candlelight vigil signal the one-year “angelversary” for Daunte Wright, the young man fatally shot by officer Kim Potter, who stated she intended to pull her taser but instead had pulled her gun. Civil rights attorney Jeff Storms ‘06 J.D. is here, beside the Wright family. While his presence is not required as part of his role pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit against the north suburban
Minneapolis city, he says that to be a successful civil rights lawyer “it is a complete life commitment.” Storms built his practice representing the families of those killed or injured due to unconstitutional conduct or negligence by government officials from police officers to child protection case workers. It’s emotional for him and for the families. He takes solace in knowing that his work allows for justice, accountability and healing, while also impacting
the administration of justice in ongoing efforts to obtain the equitable application of legal right and law. Two years ago, a month before Wright died, Storms and his co-counsels, Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, negotiated an unprecedented $27 million pre- trial settlement with the City of Minneapolis on behalf of George Floyd’s next-of-kin. Storms’ advocacy goes beyond a monetary outcome; it is after change – change in the way the
Page 12 St. Thomas Lawyer
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