Facts

Plaintiff Jonathan C. Goodwin filed a suit against defendants including Sheriff Lee Baca, the watch commander at the Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail and several deputies working in the jail.

Plaintiff claimed that deputies had assaulted him, while he was an inmate at the Men's Central Jail, on two separate occasions (Dec. 4, 2010 and Aug. 10, 2011) that resulted in plaintiff sustaining injuries. Plaintiff claimed several violations of his civil rights including excessive force, illegal seizure, conspiracy, malicious prosecution, and deliberate indifference to serious medical needs.

Defendants denied the allegations.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Regarding the Dec. 4, incident, plaintiff was housed in Module 8200 at the Men's Central Jail, which houses inmates with infections and open wounds. Plaintiff claimed that deputy Victor Beas kicked over his dinner tray to him. An argument ensued between plaintiff and Beas, resulting in plaintiff being pepper sprayed by the deputy and placed into a chokehold. Plaintiff contended that he did not resist being detained by the deputy and only pulled the deputy's arm from around his neck to prevent himself from being choked. Plaintiff was then punched and kicked by several deputies, handcuffed and hobbled.

Plaintiff claimed there has been a persistent pattern of unreasonable force in the Los Angeles County jails for several years. Plaintiff claims the department's leadership has failed to identify, monitor and address the issue of excessive force in the jails, despite allegedly having knowledge of the "pervasive" problem.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
Regarding the Dec. 4, incident, the deputy defendant claimed that while picking up the dinner trays, plaintiff requested to speak with him. The deputy advised plaintiff that he would do so when he finished picking up the dinner trays. When he returned to the cell, the inmate said "who was the bitch put my dinner tray on the floor?" The deputy claimed that plaintiff grabbed him by the lapel and tried to strike him with his fist, grazing the top of his head. A struggle ensued, and plaintiff placed the deputy in a chokehold. The deputy was then able to trip plaintiff causing plaintiff and the deputy to fall to the floor. During the struggle, the deputy attempted to apply a carotid restraint on plaintiff and was bitten in the right ring finger by plaintiff. Other deputies responded, the struggle continued and plaintiff was eventually handcuffed and hobbled.

In the Aug. 10 incident, where plaintiff claimed he was punched numerous times by a sheriff's deputy and a custody assistant, plaintiff was being taken from his cell to be placed in another cell. The two individual defendants denied any force was used. Plaintiff suffered no injuries.

Settlement Discussions

No demand and no offer were made.

Injuries

Plaintiff claimed soft tissue injuries to his face arising from the Dec. 4, incident, and a broken molar resulting from the Aug. 10, incident.

Result

Following a full day of trial testimony, Judge Stephen V. Wilson ruled from the bench rendering a verdict in favor of defendants Victor Beas, Brian Flannigan and Fernando Luviano.

Other Information

MEDIATOR: Thomas Feeley FILING DATE: July 6, 2012.