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Civil Rights
Police Misconduct
False Imprisonment

Dennis Taylor v. County of Los Angeles, et al.

Published: Jul. 6, 1996 | Result Date: Jun. 5, 1996 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: TC004905 –  $0

Judge

Jack W. Morgan

Court

L.A. Superior Compton


Attorneys

Plaintiff

Joseph L. Shalant


Defendant

Martin Roy Robles


Experts

Plaintiff

Lisa Dayan
(medical)

Defendant

Joseph J. Callanan Jr.
(technical)

Facts

On February 14, 1992, the plaintiff, Dennis Taylor, a 40-year-old truck driver, exclaimed "647f" in a Department of Social Services lobby occupied by 500 to 800 person. At the time of the plaintiffÆs outburst, the defendant County of Los AngelesÆ employees, the defendant safety police officers, were escorting out an intoxicated individual. The defendant safety police officer, Steve Marquez, asked the plaintiff to speak to her outside the building. After speaking with defendant Steve Marquez, the plaintiff was allowed to re-enter the building. While re-entering the building, the plaintiff allegedly became verbally and physically threatening and refused subsequent directives to leave the premises. The plaintiff was handcuffed and transported to the safety police office located in the back of the building. The plaintiff was held for 15 to 20 minutes while a warrant search was conducted and was then released to pick up his welfare check in the front lobby of the building. The plaintiff, Dennis Taylor, brought this action against the defendants, the county of Los Angeles and safety police officers Steve Marquez, Kenneth Robinson and Steve Bill, based on false imprisonment, assault, battery and violation of civil rights theories of recovery.

Settlement Discussions

The plaintiff made a C.C.P. º998 settlement demand for $350,000 (plus attorney's fees), which was reduced to $110,000 on the first day of trial. The defendants made a settlement offer for $20,000.

Specials in Evidence

$________ $__________ $___________ $__________

Damages

The plaintiff claimed $2,428 in economic damages.

Injuries

The plaintiff alleged he sustained soft tissue injuries to his neck, back and left shoulder and a bruised wrist as a result of the incident.

Other Information

The verdict was reached approximately three years and four months after the case was filed. The verdict was connected with a retrial. The first trial was in November 1995 and resulted in a mistrial due to a hung jury (eight for the plaintiff and four for the defendants).

Deliberation

3 hours

Poll

9-3

Length

3 weeks


#92390

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