GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A lawsuit filed by hostages during the 2015 standoff at Eagle Nation Cycles against the city of Neenah appears headed for a trial, after a mediation session scheduled for Tuesday was canceled.
Brian Flatoff took multiple people hostage at the store, upset about his motorcycle. During the standoff, police officers shot and killed Michael Funk. The officers were not charged, and a federal lawsuit by Funk’s estate was dismissed.
Ethan Moderson, Ryan Moderson, Michael Peterson, Stephen Erato, and George Fuerte filed suit against the City of Neenah, Sgt. Angela Eichmann, Lt. Shaun O’Bre, Lt. Tyron Thompson, Officer Jonathan Kuffel, Officer Marly Heiting and several others. The suit claims hostages were treated as if they were criminals, not crime victims, and seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. The city denies the claims.
A mediation session with a federal magistrate judge was set for today, but was canceled at the request of Neenah’s attorney “after his clients received and reviewed the initial demand,” court notes states.
A three-day jury trial is now scheduled for Nov. 6, court records show.
Flatoff was sentenced to 100 years in prison for his actions.
