$18M Settlement for LAPD Cruiser High-Speed Crash Injuries
Table of Contents
Case Background
On the evening of June 4, 2024, a violent high-speed collision involving a Los Angeles Police Department cruiser shattered the lives of two brothers. Stephen Paper was driving his red Toyota Camry northbound on Balboa Boulevard shortly before 8:00 p.m. with his brother, Richard Paper, sitting in the front passenger seat. As Stephen negotiated a left turn onto westbound Burbank Boulevard, an LAPD officer traveling southbound on Balboa Boulevard slammed into the passenger side of their vehicle. The force of the impact was so extreme that it sent the Camry spinning across the intersection. The car struck a traffic light pole, a property wall, and an electrical control box before finally coming to a stop on the southwest corner. Both brothers suffered life-threatening injuries and required immediate emergency transport to a nearby hospital.
Cause
A preliminary investigation revealed that LAPD Officer Jason Stevenson had driven the police vehicle at 80 mph in a 45-mph zone just seconds before the impact. At the time of the crash, the officer had not activated his emergency lights or sirens, and he was not in pursuit of any criminal suspect. Investigators later concluded that the collision happened solely because the officer had operated the vehicle at an unsafe speed, leaving Stephen Paper with no time to complete his turn safely.
Injury
The Paper brothers sustained catastrophic physical trauma that required multiple surgeries and weeks of intensive care. Stephen Paper suffered severe internal damage and fractures, while Richard Paper, who bore the brunt of the side-impact collision, dealt with life-altering injuries that nearly claimed his life. Beyond the physical wounds, both men faced significant psychological distress, disfigurement, and a permanent reduction in their quality of life.
Damages Sought
The Plaintiffs filed a lawsuit seeking compensation for a wide range of losses. They requested payment for their extensive hospital and medical bills, which had continued to mount since the night of the accident. Additionally, the lawsuit sought damages for lost earning capacity and future financial support. The brothers also asked the Court for general damages to address their physical pain, mental suffering, anxiety, and the emotional toll of the near-fatal event.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
The legal battle focused on the reckless nature of the officer’s speed and the systemic failure of the police department to prevent such preventable tragedies.
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Stephen Paper and Richard Paper.
· Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Robert S. Glassman | Jonathan H. Davidi
· Experts for Plaintiff(s): John Brault | Stephen M. Casner | Allen S. Chen | Eric Deyerl | P. Richard Emmanuel | Peter Formuzis | Andrew Fox | Daniel Franc | Alberto A. Miranda | Tracy L. Travis
Defendant(s): City of Los Angeles and Jason Christopher Stevenson.
· Counsel for Defendant(s): Hydee Feldstein Soto | Denise C. Mills | Kathleen Kenealy | Karen Woodward | Stephanie Brie Gonzalez
· Experts for Defendant(s): David J. Daren | Hamid R. Djalilian | Robert Freundlich | George K. Henry | Jeffrey Korchek | David Andrew Krauss | Luke Macyszyn
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
Counsel for the Paper brothers highlighted the irony that Officer Stevenson had worked for the Valley Traffic Division’s Street Racing Task Force at the time he chose to drive nearly double the speed limit. They argued that the officer’s conduct was inexplicable and irrational, especially since no emergency justified the high speed. The legal team emphasized that the City of Los Angeles had a non-delegable duty to protect civilian motorists from the very officers sworn to keep the streets safe.
The City’s legal team initially denied all allegations of negligence. They argued that the Plaintiffs might have contributed to their own injuries by failing to use reasonable care while driving or by potentially failing to wear seatbelts. The defense sought to shift some of the liability onto the brothers, claiming they had assumed certain risks by entering the intersection. They also asserted that as a public entity, the City enjoyed certain statutory immunities from liability.
Claims of Negligence
The primary claim in the lawsuit centered on the basic negligence of Officer Stevenson. The Plaintiffs argued that he breached his duty to operate his patrol vehicle in a safe and reasonable manner. Because he was acting within the course and scope of his employment, the Plaintiffs asserted that the City of Los Angeles was vicariously liable for his actions.
Public Entity Responsibility
A second layer of the claim focused on the City’s broader responsibility. The Plaintiffs pointed to a study showing that LAPD officers had been involved in over 1,000 injury-causing or fatal collisions in the five years preceding this crash. They argued that the City had failed to address well-documented unsafe driving practices within the department, making this specific crash a predictable result of a larger systemic failure.
Defense Arguments
The City of Los Angeles raised several affirmative defenses to shield itself from a massive payout. They claimed that the brothers had not complied with all provisions of the California Tort Claims Act before filing suit. Furthermore, the defense argued that under certain California Vehicle Code sections, the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle is exempt from standard rules of the road. They maintained that any award should be reduced if the evidence showed that the brothers had not mitigated their own damages or if they had shared any portion of the blame for the collision.
Settlement
After the evidence regarding the officer's speed and the severity of the brothers' injuries became clear, the City of Los Angeles moved to resolve the case. Rather than facing a jury that likely would have been moved by the dramatic photographs of the crushed Camry and the officer's 80 mph speed, the parties reached an agreement. The City of Los Angeles settled the lawsuit for $18,000,000. This substantial payment intended to cover the lifelong medical needs of the Paper brothers and provide some measure of justice for the horrific event they had endured.
Court documents are available upon request at jurimatic@exlitem.com