The parents of a teenager who died when a California Highway Patrol officer shot him in 2001 have been awarded $4.6 million. The federal jury ruled in favor of John & Cathy Adams over the wrongful death of their son, 18-year-old Alan Adams. They awarded the two of them $1.01 million and an additional $4.5 million because they found CHP officer Paul Speers was negligent when he fired his weapon at the teenager following a high-speed police chase. However, the jury also found that the 18-year-old was partially at fault, so the verdict amount was decreased by 20%.
The police chase, which lasted over an hour, happened on January 20, 2001. A sheriff's detective saw Alan drive through a stop sign and the chase took place through two California counties.
Police officers who were chasing him were able to surround the Ford Expedition Alan was driving when he started to make a U-turn over a grassy median. They ordered the teenager out of the vehicle, and as he moved his mother's Ford Expedition into reverse next to a CHP car, Speers reportedly shot at him six times, killing him. Witness testimony, however, indicate that Speers may have actually been in front of the SUV when he shot Alan.
Speers was never disciplined for the incident and no criminal charges were filed against him. He continues to work as a CHP police officer.
In another California police brutality case, a man who says that Hawthorne police kicked him while he was handcuffed and broke his jaw has reached a $1 million settlement with the Southern California city of Hawthorne. Anthony Goodrow claims that not only was he assaulted by police in July 2006, but he and his wife were then falsely prosecute in an effort to cover the police officers' excessive use of violence.
The issue of police brutality in California has been in the headlines in recent months. Earlier this month, the city of Los Angeles agreed to settle nine police brutality lawsuits filed by plaintiffs who were injured during the May 2007 immigration rally at MacArthur Park for $12.85 million. And on January 1, 22-year-old Oscar Grant died after he was shot in the back by police. Video footage captured the shooting. His family has filed a California wrongful death lawsuit suing the Bay Area Rapid Transit Agency for $25 million.
CHP ordered to pay $4.6 million in killing of Hilmar teen, Fresno Bee, February 9, 2009
Hawthorne pays $1 million settlement in suspect-abuse lawsuit, Los Angeles Times, February 3, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Additional claims likely in Oscar Grant slaying, SFGate, February 2, 2009
Police Brutality, Santa Monica College Library
