PHILADELPHIA — A federal judge has mandated that attorneys involved in a civil rights lawsuit against the city of Philadelphia must issue both in-person and written apologies to local residents impacted by a distressing sound test that took place early in the morning on September 23. The test involved a repeated audio loop of a woman’s screams and has been described by U.S. Judge John F. Murphy as a situation that lacked both foresight and appropriate judgment, leading to a “disturbing and potentially hazardous scenario.” These apologies are to be delivered to nearby residents living close to the corner of South Broad Street and Passyunk Avenue by the end of October.

Residents expressed their dismay over the incident, with neighbor Rachel Robbins describing the experience as “jarring” and “really awful.” The legal representatives are acting on behalf of an individual who is engaged in a lawsuit against the city along with several police officers, alleging wrongful arrest and conviction for sexual assault, a conviction that was overturned in 2020 after the man had spent 19 years in prison. During the initial incident, he had been shot three times by police officers.

The core question in the current lawsuit revolves around whether the man was able to hear the woman’s screams from a distance of two blocks, as he contends he was attempting to assist the victim. The judge noted that the implementation of the loudspeaker occurred in proximity to both row homes and a day care center that was on the verge of opening for the day. Many neighbors found the audio test to be distressing, particularly those caring for children heading to the day care.

Judge Murphy highlighted that the actions of the plaintiff’s attorneys displayed a serious disregard for the community and fell short of meeting the ethical standards expected of legal practitioners in the area. He outlined that the required apology should properly articulate “their transgression” and acknowledge “full responsibility for the repercussions of the scream test.” A request for comment regarding the situation has been directed to the lawyers representing the man in the lawsuit against the city.