Los Angeles Father, A Witness to Son’s Death, Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Police
Jul 8, 2014
Sacramento, CA (Law Firm Newswire) July 8, 2014 – This grim story resulted in the father of a man shot by the police, live on Los Angeles television, filing a $20 million wrongful death lawsuit.
“The lawsuit states that the victim’s federal and state civil rights were violated when Brian Beaird was shot by police,” explains accomplished Sacramento wrongful death lawyer, Deborah Barron, not involved in the case. “This story with a fatal ending began on December 13, 2013 at 9:30 pm. Beaird, discharged from the National Guard in 1988, was being pursued by officers for allegedly driving in a reckless manner resulting in a mid-intersection collision near Los Angeles Street and Olympic Boulevard. His Corvette spun out after the impact and ended up on a sidewalk in downtown Los Angeles.”
Beaird, 51-years-old at the time of his death, was a disabled veteran and the police pursuit created enough media interest that it was broadcast live, attracting a large television audience that included Beaird’s father. The 80-year-old father watched his son get out of the car, raise his hands and fall to the ground after being shot numerous times by three police officers. “This is a horror like no other, watching your son being gunned down in the streets,” says Barron. “The three officers allegedly fired an estimated 22 times at an unarmed man who had survived brain surgery for a tumor but was left with traumatic brain injury after the operation.”
Shootings by police have been on the rise in the Los Angeles area recently and according to the family’s lawyer, over the last three decades there has not been one criminal prosecution of an officer for a shooting. If a civilian had shot Beaird in the same manner, under the same circumstances, they would be charged with first-degree murder.
The family opted to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their son, alleging the police were not trained properly, committed battery, were negligent and used excessive force. Their message to others in similar situations was that it is time for the police department to do something about their customs and practices that led them to use deadly force, seemingly without any evident ramifications for the officers involved in a shooting. “Many wrongful death lawsuits are not about obtaining compensation. They are about finding closure to move on and sending a message to defendants and others who may be in the same situation. Whether or not Beaird’s questionable death and subsequent lawsuit changes LAPD policies remains to be seen,” comments Barron.
The three officers involved in this incident were put on leave pending an investigation into the matter. They may either receive further training or be disciplined.
Learn more at http://www.lawbarron.com/
Barron Law Corporation
1900 Point West Way, Suite 202
Sacramento, CA 95815
Phone: 916-486-1712
http://www.lawbarron.com
- Sexual harassment does not need to be motivated by sexual desire
In January, the California Court of Appeals ruled that individuals may file an action for sexual harassment if they have been harassed with verbal attacks about their sexual identity — regardless of whether or not such attacks were motivated by sexual desire. Put another way, sexual harassment need not be driven by sexual desire to […] - Student activism drags lawmakers to the drafting table to deal with sexual assaults
Recently, students at the University of California, Berkeley, rose up in anger over their campus’ official handling of several sexual assaults in their midst. Student activists have chosen to file a federal complaint against the university. The institution is already facing a state investigation and heavy media criticism. For the second time in a year, […] - Wrongful death lawsuit names Vacaville Police as defendants
Last year, Vacaville police shot and killed a mentally ill Fairfield man. His family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the police department and the city, claiming that the police were aware that the 23-year-old man had a mental illness when they pursued him in a low-speed chase in July 2013. It further alleges […]
