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LA Agrees To Pay $12,550,000 To Settle Police Brutality Suit
The City of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $12,550,000 to settle a class action suit brought by protesters who were injured and intimidated by the LAPD during a May 1, 2007, march protesting the treatment of immigrants and immigration policies in the United States. The settlement, entered June 24, 2009, represents the largest financial settlement in a demonstration case. In addition, the settlement requires the LAPD to implement sweeping changes to its policies and procedures concerning mass demonstrations.
On May 1, 2007, thousands of protesters assembled in Los Angeles to protest the treatment of immigrants and immigration policies in the United States. The protesters, most of whom were peaceful, were met with force by the LAPD. Protesters of all ages, including women and children, were hit with batons, pushed with motorcycles and horses, and struck with non-lethal bean-bag-type projectiles.
A class action suit was filed against the city over its response to the protest. The settlement requires the city to pay the class $12,550,000. Some $3,713,000 in attorney’s fees will be paid out of the settlement. Separately, the city entered into a consent judgment requiring the LAPD alter its crowd control procedures. Some of the changes include a prohibition on the use of motorcycles to strike protesters, curtailment of helicopters that were previously used to interfere with protests, and a requirement that batons not be used on peaceful protesters.
The plaintiffs were represented by Barrett Litt, Carol Sobel, and Paul Hoffman, all experienced civil rights attorneys. See: Multi-Ethnic Immigrant Workers Organizing Network v. City of Los Angeles, No. CV-07-3072-AHM CFMMX.
On May 1, 2007, thousands of protesters assembled in Los Angeles to protest the treatment of immigrants and immigration policies in the United States. The protesters, most of whom were peaceful, were met with force by the LAPD. Protesters of all ages, including women and children, were hit with batons, pushed with motorcycles and horses, and struck with non-lethal bean-bag-type projectiles.
A class action suit was filed against the city over its response to the protest. The settlement requires the city to pay the class $12,550,000. Some $3,713,000 in attorney’s fees will be paid out of the settlement. Separately, the city entered into a consent judgment requiring the LAPD alter its crowd control procedures. Some of the changes include a prohibition on the use of motorcycles to strike protesters, curtailment of helicopters that were previously used to interfere with protests, and a requirement that batons not be used on peaceful protesters.
The plaintiffs were represented by Barrett Litt, Carol Sobel, and Paul Hoffman, all experienced civil rights attorneys. See: Multi-Ethnic Immigrant Workers Organizing Network v. City of Los Angeles, No. CV-07-3072-AHM CFMMX.
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Related legal case
Multi-Ethnic Immigrant Workers Organizing Network v. City of Los Angeles
| Year | 2009 |
|---|---|
| Cite | USDC, C.D. Cal., Western Div. L.A., No. 2:07-cv-03072-AHM-FFM (July 2, 2009) |
| Level | District Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Attorney Fees | 3,713,000 |
| Damages | 12,550,000 |
| Injunction Status | Granted |
Please see the brief bank for documents related to this case.