Facts

Samuel Chang filed suit against Los Angeles Firefighters Eric Carpenter and Michael Vitar, along with Thomas Molnar, Eugene Elbert, and Michael Cirlin, in relation to a physical altercation between the men.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS: While plaintiff was walking around a neighborhood on Halloween night. Plaintiff contended that the defendants began harassing him and following him. He feared for his safety and ran away from the defendants, but they chased him and tackled him to the ground. The defendants then held him down on the ground in the prone position, while Eric Carpenter, who was off-duty at the time of the incident, choked him. Chang eventually lost consciousness and went into cardiac arrest. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and kidney failure, among other injuries. Chang brought causes of action for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment, and negligence.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS: Defendants denied the contentions.

Result

The parties reached a settlement agreement for $7.4 million.