Taylor & Ring Obtains Settlement for Shooting
By Lawdragon News | November 10, 2015 | Press Releases, Taylor & Ring news
Taylor & Ring, a Los Angeles-based trial law firm, obtained an $8.8 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.
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.
“Mr. Montalvo was attempting to comply with officials when he was fatally shot by multiple deputies who used unnecessary and excessive force,” says Attorney John C. Taylor of Taylor & Ring who represented the Montalvo family in their civil suit. “There is a real problem with police officers using deadly force when it’s not called for.”
Background
On April 26, 2009, Alfredo Montalvo, a 29-year-old who worked as a fork lift operator and in private security, was shot and killed by nine Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies in Lynwood, CA.
On the day of the incident, two officers in an unmarked vehicle attempted to pull over Mr. Montalvo on suspicion of drunk driving or fleeing from a robbery. There was a short pursuit and Mr. Montalvo’s vehicle crashed and became trapped between two parked cars. Moments later, twelve sheriff’s vehicles and 16 deputies surrounded his car.
The deputies commanded Mr. Montalvo to exit his vehicle, and in an attempt to comply, Mr. Montalvo reversed his car so that he could open the driver-side door. Sheriff deputies claimed Mr. Montalvo was attempting to ram into the unmarked sheriff’s vehicle parked a few feet behind him. Upon impact, nine deputies fired 61 rounds at Mr. Montalvo.
The coroner testified that a gunshot wound to Mr. Montalvo’s left arm/head indicated that his arm was most likely raised at the time he was shot. Mr. Montalvo was also found unarmed.
