Jury Verdicts & Settlements

Latest jury verdicts, settlements, and legal outcome analysis

West Memphis Police Brutality Lawsuit: Jury Reaches Verdict

Michael Grant filed a lawsuit against several West Memphis police officers following a September 2023 encounter that left him hospitalized with serious internal injuries. Grant alleged that after he surrendered during a foot pursuit, officers brutally attacked him, stomping on his stomach and back while he lay on the ground. He sought over $1,000,000 in damages, claiming the city failed to properly train its staff and fostered a "code of silence" regarding misconduct. After a three-day trial in May 2026, the jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of the defense, finding that the Plaintiff did not prove the physical assault occurred.

Personal Injury

$11.8M Verdict for Fan Blinded by LAPD Rubber Bullet in 2020

A federal jury awarded $11.8 million to a 22-year-old college student and esports athlete who was permanently blinded in one eye after LAPD officers fired a rubber bullet into a peaceful crowd celebrating the Dodgers' 2020 World Series victory in Downtown Los Angeles.

Personal Injury

Speeding Lawsuit: Family Awarded $126M in Wrongful Death

In a historic federal ruling, a jury held the City of Moore and Sergeant Kyle Lloyd accountable for the 2019 death of 18-year-old Emily Gaines. Lloyd, though off-duty and driving his personal vehicle, traveled at 96 mph in a 50-mph zone to deliver keys for a department event. The collision occurred as Emily drove to her ACT exam, resulting in her immediate death. The $126 million verdict addressed both the family’s profound grief and the officer’s "reckless and callous indifference" to constitutional rights. The Court found that Lloyd acted within the scope of his employment, establishing municipal liability for the tragic high-speed impact.

Personal Injury

Police Shooting Verdict: $27.3 Million for Excessive Force

On a late night in April 2021, Steffon Barber was sitting in his parked car in a residential driveway in Adelanto, California, when a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy approached him. Within moments, the encounter escalated to deadly force. Without a warrant or a clear threat, Deputy Christopher Alfred fired multiple rounds, striking Mr. Barber in the back of the head. While the defense argued the deputy's actions were justified, a federal jury found the force excessive and the County’s training "deliberately indifferent." Despite the deputy’s claims, the jury awarded Mr. Barber over $27 million for his permanent physical and emotional trauma, marking a massive victory for civil rights accountability in Southern California.

Personal Injury

Veteran Wins $6.7M Against LAPD for Civil Rights Abuse

Gemini said In the civil rights case Slade Douglas v. City of Los Angeles, a federal jury awarded $6,789,000 to a military veteran following a 2019 welfare check that escalated into an unlawful arrest and forced medical procedure. The incident began when LAPD Officers Jeffrey Yabana and Jeremy Wheeler responded to a hotline referral, eventually seizing Mr. Douglas’s phone and arresting him without probable cause after he attempted to report their provocative behavior. During the encounter, the officers ignored Mr. Douglas's pre-existing spinal injuries, causing permanent nerve damage through improper handcuffing, and later oversaw a non-consensual, painful catheterization while he was sedated at a hospital. The jury found the officers liable for First Amendment retaliation, false imprisonment, negligence, and ADA violations, awarding over $6.6 million in compensatory damages and $173,000 in punitive damages for conduct deemed malicious and oppressive.

Personal Injury

Jury Awards $1.35M in San Jose Police Protest Shooting Case

A federal jury awarded Kyle Johnson $1,353,313 after finding San Jose Police Officer James Adgar used excessive force and retaliated against Johnson for exercising his First Amendment rights during George Floyd protests on May 30, 2020. The jury found Adgar violated Johnson's Fourth Amendment rights, committed battery, and acted negligently when he shot Johnson with a 40mm foam baton projectile near City Hall. The City of San Jose prevailed on all claims against it.

Police Misconduct

Disabled Student Wins Major Settlement in MVUSD Case

A high-impact civil rights lawsuit brought on behalf of an eleven-year-old student with disabilities concluded with a significant settlement after two years of litigation. The case alleged that the Moreno Valley Unified School District failed to provide required disability accommodations, triggering a crisis that led to law enforcement intervention and the physical restraint of the child by a school resource officer. Court filings claimed emotional trauma, educational regression, and violations of ADA Title II, Section 504, and the Fourth Amendment. The settlement resolved all claims and confirmed over $5.3 million in attorneys’ fees and costs, alongside policy reforms addressing how schools and law enforcement handle students with disabilities.

Constitutional and Civil Rights

LA County Settles Deputy Excessive Force Lawsuit for $190K

Juan Zamora and Geraldine Zamora sued the County of Los Angeles and Deputy Ramirez over an incident involving the Deputy's alleged excessive force. The complaint included serious claims like battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violation of the Tom Bane Civil Rights Act. The County rejected all claims, asserting the Deputy acted reasonably and was protected by immunity. After unsuccessful mediation attempts, the parties avoided a jury trial by reaching an unconditional settlement on March 15, 2024. The County finalized the legal action for $190,000.