LA County Settles Deputy Excessive Force Lawsuit for $190K
Table of Contents
Case Background
Juan Zamora and Geraldine Zamora, the Plaintiffs, initiated this civil rights and tort lawsuit against the County of Los Angeles and a Sheriff's Deputy identified as "Ramirez." Filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles (Case No. 22STCV07595), the complaint stemmed from an incident that Plaintiffs alleged involved excessive force and other unlawful actions by the Deputy while acting under the County’s authority.
Cause
The core of the legal action focused on the Deputy’s conduct during an encounter with Juan Zamora. The Plaintiff alleged that Deputy Ramirez had used excessive force, which constituted battery, and had intentionally inflicted severe emotional distress upon him. The complaint also included a critical claim under the Tom Bane Civil Rights Act (Civil Code § 52.1), alleging that the Deputy's actions had interfered with the Plaintiff's civil rights by threats, intimidation, or coercion. Additionally, Geraldine Zamora, the co-Plaintiff, asserted a claim for Loss of Consortium, stating that the incident and resulting injuries had damaged her relationship with her husband, Juan Zamora.
Injury
The Plaintiffs sought compensation for injuries that Juan Zamora sustained as a direct result of the Deputy’s alleged actions. The complaint outlined that these injuries included physical, mental, and emotional harm. Because the lawsuit involved claims of battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress, the nature of the injuries related not just to physical damage but also to severe psychological and emotional distress the Plaintiff experienced.
Damages Sought
The Plaintiffs pursued relief across multiple categories. They sought general and special damages, the amount of which they would prove at trial, to cover medical costs, loss of financial support, and pain and suffering. They also specifically requested exemplary and punitive damages against Deputy Ramirez. These punitive damages had intended to punish the Deputy for their alleged malicious and oppressive conduct, setting an example to deter future similar actions. Geraldine Zamora's claim for loss of consortium added damages for the loss of companionship, comfort, society, and affection she had experienced due to her husband's injuries.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
The lawsuit formally began when the Plaintiffs filed their complaint on March 2, 2022. The Defendant, the County of Los Angeles, formally answered the complaint on April 28, 2022, rejecting all allegations and laying the groundwork for a robust legal defense. The parties then engaged in extensive pre-trial proceedings, including unsuccessful attempts at alternative dispute resolution. Court records showed the parties mediated unsuccessfully over the summer and attended an unsuccessful Mandatory Settlement Conference (MSC) just weeks before the trial date. Despite these failures, the parties continued trial preparation, exchanging exhibits and motions in limine, but ultimately reached a settlement before the jury selection began.
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Juan Zamora | Geraldine Zamora
· Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Humberto M. Guizar | Christian Contreras
Defendant(s): County of Los Angeles and Deputy Ramirez
· Counsel for Defendant(s): Laura E. Inlow | Lenore C. Kelly | Lisa D Collinson
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
The formal legal exchange established two fiercely opposed positions early in the case.
Claims
Plaintiffs' counsel argued that Deputy Ramirez had acted outside the scope of acceptable police procedure, breaching his duty of care through negligent, willful, and malicious conduct. They asserted that this conduct constituted a battery, violating Juan Zamora's physical integrity. Furthermore, they contended that the Deputy's aggressive behavior and the subsequent emotional trauma qualified as the intentional infliction of emotional distress. Most significantly, the Plaintiffs alleged that the actions had constituted a violation of civil rights, triggering the powerful financial remedies available under the Bane Act.
Defense
Counsel for the County of Los Angeles and Deputy Ramirez vehemently opposed all claims. Their formal Answer issued a general denial of liability, effectively forcing the Plaintiffs to prove every point. The defense argued that the Deputy's actions had been reasonable and necessary under the circumstances, emphasizing that the Deputy had acted in good faith and without malice. They also asserted various affirmative defenses, including the claim that the Plaintiffs had caused or contributed to their own injuries, and that the Deputy was entitled to governmental and qualified immunity for actions they had taken in the line of duty.
Settlement Reached
The prolonged legal battle ultimately ended when the parties arrived at a full, unconditional agreement outside of Court. This settlement entirely resolved all claims Juan and Geraldine Zamora had brought against the County and Deputy Ramirez.
On March 15, 2024, Plaintiffs' counsel filed a Notice of Settlement of Entire Case with the Court. This action formally notified the Court that the parties had finalized an agreement, thereby vacating the upcoming jury trial.
The settlement successfully avoided the risks and costs of a trial for both the Plaintiffs and the County. The parties finalized the legal action for $190,000. The Plaintiffs' counsel then dismissed all remaining unnamed "Doe" Defendants, and the Court officially closed the case file, ending the litigation that had begun over two years earlier.
Court documents are available upon request at jurimatic@exlitem.com