Nassau to discuss $7.7M Bird settlement

The Nassau County Legislature is scheduled Monday to consider a measure to pay a $7.7 million settlement to the family of Jo'Anna Bird, whose 2009 murder sparked a lawsuit alleging that police had failed to protect her.

Approval of the bonding for the settlement had been scheduled in the legislature's Rules Committee more than two months ago, but was delayed by Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa), who said he had questions about it.

On Friday, Schmitt aide Cristina Brennan confirmed that the full legislature will consider the resolution Monday.

Frederick Brewington, a Hempstead attorney who represents Bird's mother, Sharon Dorsett, and Bird's children, ages 8 and 6, said Friday he was "hopeful [legislators] will live up to their obligation to Bird."

Bird was killed in March 2009 by her ex-boyfriend, Leonardo Valdez-Cruz. The lawsuit by Dorsett charged that Nassau police had failed to protect Bird.

Valdez-Cruz had threatened and mistreated Bird for months before the murder. In May 2010, a police internal affairs report said police did not investigate in at least four domestic-violence visits to Bird's home in New Cassel.