University of California reaches pepper-spray settlement

The University of California has reached a $1m (£620,000) settlement with demonstrators who were pepper-sprayed at an Occupy protest last year.

The college will pay $30,000 to 21 complainants each, with $250,000 for their lawyers, according to an agreement filed in a Sacramento court.

University police were filmed using the pepper spray on peaceful protesters at the Davis campus in November 2011.

The viral video became a rallying cry for the Occupy Wall Street movement.

There were calls for the resignation of Chancellor Linda Katehi and a task force's report in April blamed the incident on poor communication and planning throughout the university's entire chain of command.

The settlement also asks the university to set aside $100,000 for others who can prove they were arrested or sprayed during the 18 November episode.

The proposal must be approved by a judge.