Huntington Beach officials say they have settled a California wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of Ashley McDonald for $125,000. MacDonald, an 18-year-old teenager, was shot to death by two city police officers that were trying to apprehend her.
The Huntington Beach cops were reportedly responding to a 911 call about a woman near a park who was holding a 4-inch knife. Macdonald, who was approached by the two police officers, reportedly told them that she was on drugs and to kill her. She then ran towards them. The police officers shot her 15 times. A probe by the district attorney's office and the Orange County Sheriff's Department found that the police officers did not engage in any wrongdoing when they were forced to quickly decide on whether they should kill someone who could be dangerous.
MacDonald's parents, Lisa Marie Guy and Kenneth MacDonald, however, claim that the two police officers used unreasonable and excessive force when apprehending their daughter. They filed a wrongful death lawsuit asking for $40 million in compensatory and punitive damages for each of them.
According to the plaintiffs' Huntington Beach personal injury lawyers, Macdonald's parents have already suffered enough over losing their daughter and they did not want to have to endure a wrongful death trial.
Police Brutality
Police officers and all other law enforcement officers are not supposed to engage in excessive force or violence when apprehending, arresting, or interrogating police.
Examples of police brutality:
• Police torture
• Making false arrests
• Physical abuse
• Verbal abuse
• Sexual assault
• Rape
• Racial profiling
• Making violent threats
• Intimidation
If you believe that you sustained serious injuries or someone you love died because a law enforcement officer engaged in police brutality, you may have grounds to file a California personal injury claim or wrongful death lawsuit for damages.
Huntington Beach to Pay Parents $125,000 in wrongful death lawsuit, Los Angeles Times, January 10, 2009
Huntington Beach Settles $40 Million Police Shooting Lawsuit, Justice News Flash, January 13, 2009
RELATED WEB RESOURCES:
Huntington Beach Police Department
Wrongful Death, Justia
City of Huntington Beach Settles California Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over Police Shooting of Teen for $125,000
February 5, 2009,
