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

Summary

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.

The Case

Case Name: Montalvo v. County of Los Angeles
Court and Case Number: LASC, South Central District, Compton/ TC023708
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Date Action was Filed: Friday, November 06, 2009
Type of Case: Civil Rights, Excessive Force, Police Shooting, Wrongful Death
Judge or Arbitrator(s): Hon. Lynn Olson
Plaintiffs:
Annette Montalvo
Child #1
Child #2
Defendants:
County of Los Angeles
Type of Result: Jury Verdict

The Result

Gross Verdict or Award: $8,756,600
Trial or Arbitration Time: 5 weeks
Jury Deliberation Time: 3 days
Jury Polls: 10-2

The Attorneys

Attorney for the Plaintiff:
Taylor & Ring by John C. Taylor and Louanne Masry, Los Angeles.
Attorney for the Defendant:
Harold G. Becks & Associates by Harold G. Becks, Los Angeles.

The Experts

Plaintiff's Technical Experts:
Roger Clark, police policy, practice and procedure, Santee.
Defendant's Technical Experts:
Clarence Chapman, police policy,practice and procedure, Santa Monica.

Facts and Background

Facts and Background:
On April 26, 2009, plaintiffs' decedent, Alfredo Montalvo, age 29, a forklift operator and private security guard, was shot and killed by nine Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies in Lynwood. Montalvo is survived by his wife and 2 young children, ages 4 and 7.

Two deputies in an unmarked vehicle attempted to pull over Montalvo who they believed was driving drunk or fleeing from a robbery. After a short pursuit, Montalvo's vehicle crashed and was trapped between two parked cars. Twelve sheriff's vehicles and 16 deputies surrounded Montalvo's car. Montalvo backed his vehicle into a sheriff's car and, upon impact, deputies opened fire. Nine deputies fired 61 rounds at Montalvo. Montalvo was unarmed.
Plaintiff's Contentions:
That as the unarmed decedent was attempting to comply with the commands of the deputies to get out of his car, which was trapped between two parked cars, he backed his car up and impacted the unmarked sheriff's vehicle parked a few feet behind.

The coroner testified that a gunshot wound to Montalvo's left arm/head indicated that his arm was most likely raised when he was shot.

Plaintiffs contended that the deputies used excessive force and violated Montalvo's civil rights.
Defendant's Contentions:
Defendant's deputies claimed the amount of force used was justified.

Injuries and Other Damages

Economic and non-economic wrongful death damages.

Additional Notes

Result: Verdict for Mrs. Montalvo: $2,756,000 Verdict for Child #1: $3,000,300 Verdict for Child #2: $3,000,300 Total Verdict: $8,756,600 The jury also made a finding that Montalvo's civil rights had been violated.

Information on settlement demands and offers could not be published due to a confidentiality agreement.