Michael Lawton and Nancy Lawton v. State of California, et al.
Published: Nov. 9, 1996 | Result Date: Oct. 9, 1996 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: 702047 – $0
Judge
Court
Orange Superior
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Daniel L. Helfat
(Office of the Attorney General)
Facts
Plaintiff Michael Lawton, a former doctor, was under investigation by the California Medical Board. Plaintiff Nancy Lawton was his wife. On Dec. 19, 1991, an undercover operation was conducted by the defendants and the plaintiff were arrested for bribery of a witness who was to testify about Michael Lawton at an upcoming Medical Board hearing. The defendant investigators confiscated documents during the arrest. The plaintiffs brought this action against the defendant State of California, the investigators, the Deputy Attorney General Roy Hewitt and witness Cindy Counts based on false arrest, battery, civil rights violations and conversion theories of recovery.
Settlement Discussions
No settlement demand or offers were exchanged.
Damages
The plaintiffs claimed $100,000 in damages.
Injuries
The plaintiffs claimed loss of earnings and emotional distress.
Other Information
The verdict was reached approximately three years and ten months after the case was filed. A settlement conference was held on Sept. 6, 1996 before Judge Dennis S. Choate of Orange Superior Court. It did not resolve the matter.
Deliberation
+ hour
Poll
12-0
Length
4 days (court), 1.5 days (jury)
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