Taylor & Ring Obtains $8.75 Million Settlement for Man’s Death in Police Shooting

–Settlement marks highest payout by police for wrongful death in CA–

Taylor & Ring obtained an $8.75 million dollar settlement against the County of Los Angeles on behalf of Alfredo Montalvo, an unarmed man fatally shot by nine deputies in Lynwood, CA. On November 10, 2015 the LA County Board of Supervisors approved the settlement. On November 10, 2015 the LA County Board of Supervisors approved the settlement.

In 2009, Mr. Montalvo was followed by an unmarked sheriff’s vehicle on the suspicion of drunk driving. The attempted traffic stop caused a small pursuit which resulted in Montalvo crashing and jamming his vehicle between two parked cars. Shortly thereafter, 16 deputies arrived at the scene and demanded Montalvo exit his vehicle. When he attempted to comply, officers fired 61 rounds subsequently causing his death. Mr. Montalvo was unarmed at the time.

The deputies later claimed that Mr. Montalvo was a danger because he was trying to put the car in reverse. One deputy fired, and the rest followed, killing Mr. Montalvo. Mr. Taylor described this conduct as “contagious fire.”

“There is a real problem with the sheriff in terms of using deadly force when it’s not called for,” Mr. Taylor said. “Montalvo was unarmed, and an autopsy later revealed he was not drunk.”

The story was covered by Los Angeles Times, ABC, NBC and more.