Facts

JJay Shafer sued the County of Santa Barbara, Bill Brown, Individually and as Sheriff of Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara Sheriff's Dept., and Deputy Freddy Padilla, in connection with Padilla's arrest of Shafer.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiff, who was a student at the University of California Santa Barbara, alleged that on Oct. 4, 2009, he was walking along a public sidewalk with his friends with water balloons in their hands. Defendant Padilla then accosted them and ordered plaintiff to "drop the balloon." Plaintiff claimed Padilla became angry when plaintiff asked why and knocked him to the ground. The other deputies then helped Padilla restrain plaintiff to the ground using their hands, knees, and feet. Plaintiff's friends questioned defendants' actions, but they ignored their concerns, arrested plaintiff, and left without obtaining any statements from them, who witnessed the incident.

Plaintiff alleged that Padilla and the other deputies' conduct violated his civil rights. Then, following his arrest, he was booked for allegedly violating the law, which Padilla supported by the filing of a false crime and arrest report. Plaintiff pleaded not guilty with respect to the charges filed against him. The criminal matter was subsequently dismissed, unconditionally.

Plaintiff alleged that he reported Padilla's conduct to the Santa Barbara Police Dept., which then conducted a superficial investigation. Plaintiff claimed that the investigation ignored Padilla's allegedly violent and dishonest past.

Plaintiff then sued defendants asserting causes of action for violation of civil rights against unreasonable seizures and conspiracy and unlawful custom and practice.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS:
Defendants denied plaintiff's allegations and asserted various affirmative defenses.

Result

The jury rendered a verdict in Shafer's favor. Although finding the arrest lawful, the jury nevertheless found that Padilla used excessive force in the arrest, and awarded Shafer $45,000 in economic damages and $75,000 in noneconomic damages. The court rejected Shafer's First Amendment and malicious prosecution claims, but found Padilla acted with malice, oppression, or in reckless disregard of Shafer's right. However, it awarded no punitive damages.

Other Information

FILING DATE: Sept. 29, 2011.