Confidential
Settlement – $12,500Judge
Court
USDC Central
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Facts
The plaintiff, a baggage handler for Southwest Airlines, and his girlfriend were leaving the Inglewood courthouse
through the handicap entrance when the plaintiff saw the defendant, a security officer with the Los Angeles
Sheriff's Dept. whom he had previously had a disagreement with, leaving an elevator. Allegedly, the plaintiff
turned to his girlfriend and referred to the defendant as "nothing but a punk," to which the defendant
responded, "please leave the building." The plaintiff said, "I don't have to leave the building." When the
plaintiff supposedly flinched his shoulder at the defendant, the defendant grabbed the plaintiff by the collar of
his shirt, pushed him against the wall but then immediately released him. Thereafter, other security officers and
deputies arrived at the scene and called paramedics for the plaintiff, who claimed that he was hurt.
Settlement Discussions
The case settled for $12,500 at a one-day mediation held before Magistrate Judge Jeffery W. Johnson.
Injuries
The plaintiff alleged soft-tissue injuries and emotional distress. He was taken to Daniel Freeman Hospital where he was examined by an emergency room physician, who released the plaintiff with a pain prescription, but without further treatment. The defendants claimed that the physician could not find any evidence of injury.
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