Civil Rights

Long-time sheriff's detective doesn't want reassignment to patrol. Defense verdict. El Dorado County.

Deputy sheriff works in the investigation unit for many years, is then told he's going back on patrol duty. He claims discrimination.

Case Name: Fitzgerald v. County of El Dorado et al.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Friday, June 17, 2016
Type of Case: Civil Rights

Inmate claims painkiller from prison docs was not enough. $120,000.

Inmate with scoliosis suffers chronic back pain and prison doctors don't manage his pain well.

Case Name: Samuel Anderson v. Kelso, et al
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Monday, March 21, 2016
Type of Case: Civil Rights, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress

Lawyer tries to intervene in ongoing sexual harassment by prominent yogi and is fired. $7.3 million. Los Angeles County.

Developer of yoga method said to sexually harass students, fires his own lawyer when she tries to stop him.

Case Name: Jafa-Bodden v. Choudhury
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Monday, January 25, 2016
Type of Case: Civil Rights, Discrimination, Sexual, Employment, Sexual Harassment, Wrongful Termination

Elbow injury and emotional distress claimed after struggle with undercover officers. Defense verdict. Orange County.

Undercover police officers said to use excessive force in arrest. Defense verdict.

Case Name: Edward Rezek v. City of Tustin, et al.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Type of Case: Civil Rights

Police officer misconduct results in settlement at trial of $1.45 million. Los Angeles County.

Plaintiff husband says his wife and a Burbank police officer conspired to have him arrested and then tried to extort money from him.

Case Name: Jeremy Bassett et al. v City of Burbank, et al.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Type of Case: Civil Rights

Unarmed robbery suspect shot by Culver City police. Minor children awarded $8.8 million. Los Angeles County.

An unarmed robbery suspect is shot by a Culver City police officer. Other officers on the scene did not perceive the suspect as a threat. $8.8 million awarded by Federal jury.

Case Name: Kandace Simplis, et al. v. Culver City Police Department, et al
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, May 09, 2013
Type of Case: Civil Rights, Excessive Force, Police Shooting, Wrongful Death

Boy, 15, holding toy gun is shot in Palmdale by LA County sheriff's deputy. $1.1 million award. Los Angeles County.

A 15-year-old boy playing cops and robbers on his bicycle with friends in Palmdale was shot by a sheriff's deputy after he allegedly pointed the toy gun at two officers.

Case Name: William Fetters v. County of Los Angeles and Deputy Scott Sorrow
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Type of Case: Civil Rights, Police Shooting

LAPD officer shoots 13-year-old boy playing with pellet gun after dark. $19.2 million net award. Los Angeles County.

13-year-old boy with pellet gun is shot by LAPD officer on street after dark. Circumstances of shooting are disputed. Quadriplegia. $19.2 million net after contributory negligence.

Case Name: Rohayent Gomez Eriza v. City of Los Angeles and Victor Abarca
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Friday, December 14, 2012
Type of Case: Civil Rights, Police Shooting

$8.75 million verdict in L.A. Sheriff excessive force/wrongful death case. Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies, in an unmarked car, pursued plaintiffs' decedent as a DUI/robbery suspect. When decedent's car crashed, he was surrounded by multiple sheriff's cars. Decedent backed his vehicle into a sheriff's car and deputies opened fire, killing him.

Case Name: Montalvo v. County of Los Angeles
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Type of Case: Civil Rights, Excessive Force, Police Shooting, Wrongful Death