EXCLUSIVE: Settlement talks fail in deadly WPB police chase lawsuit

A closed-door attempt to settle the federal lawsuit over a deadly West Palm Beach police chase ended Friday without an agreement.Attorney Scott Smith, who represents the victims' families, told WPBF 25 Investigates the case "did not resolve today at this early mediation."Smith said the families now plan to move forward with discovery, including requests for depositions and document production within the next month.The lawsuit stems from a 2024 crash that killed Marcia Pochette and her pregnant daughter, Jenice Woods, after a police chase that investigators say stretched through multiple cities.Smith described it as "an entirely needless, unnecessary and unwarranted high-speed police chase" that spanned about 13 miles, reached speeds of 119 mph and involved vehicles being driven into oncoming lanes of travel."The tragedy becomes utterly brutal and mind-blowing when adding that the 7 involved officers fled the scene of the crash and did not call it in," Smith said in a statement to WPBF 25 Investigates.The lawsuit accuses the City of West Palm Beach and seven former police officers of violating the victims' civil rights.The mediation is confidential, so we don't know if the city made any offer.The city of West Palm Beach does not comment on pending litigation.The officers have denied wrongdoing and have asked a federal judge to dismiss the case.The former officers also face felony charges in a separate criminal case.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News