PUBLIC defender, Howard Hamilton, says his office has, since November 1998, secured settlement of claims in excess of $30 million against the Government onbehalf of 177 citizens, without going to court.

These claims, Hamilton said in a statement, ranged from compensation for police excesses, unlawful detention in prisons, incorrect calculations, and unreasonable delay in the payment of pensions and National Insurance Scheme claims.

Money was also paid out for riot compensation, National Housing Trust and Income Tax refunds, assistance with burials in deaths at the hands of the security forces, negligence at the hands of the medical services, unlawful detention of motor vehicles, and assaults on prisoners by prison warders.

These, Hamilton said, were all in keeping with the mission statement of his office.

In addition, Hamilton said his office has assisted in the winding-up of the administration of estates, in some cases which were waiting for up to 10 years to be settled, as well as assisting attorneys to collect from the Attorney General’s Office for the payments of judgements, which were secured in the courts.

“The Office of the Public Defender will, in accordance with the principles of natural justice and the Jamaican Constitution, investigate complaints brought by any member of the public against the state, seek redress for Constitutional and administrative injustice, and provide, where necessary and possible, the attorney’s fees needed to pursue Constitutional remedies in court,” said Hamilton.