More than two years after 32-year-old Norma Alicia Cortez-Gomez was injured in a police shootout on the eastbound 91 freeway, she and her mother, 53-year-old mother Teresa Gomez, have settled their federal lawsuit against the city of Anaheim for $300,000. The two women were among a number of motorists that got stuck in traffic on June 23, 2008 as police attempted to apprehend David Michael Abrams.
The parolee, whose vehicle was also caught in traffic, hadd started shooting at the cops. When they returned fire, a number of their bullets struck Gomez's vehicle. Norma sustained a shoulder and abdominal injury during the shooting. Meantime, Abrams, a Long Beach resident, died during the police shooting.
She and her Teresa filed their Anaheim injury lawsuit in January 2009.
Excessive Use of Police Force
When doing their job, police officers must exercise caution so as not to cause unnecessary harm to innocent bystanders or the suspects that they are questioning, pursuing, or guarding. They also must refrain from using more force than necessary.
There are too many incidents that have occurred in the US involving people that have been accidentally shot, found themselves caught in the middle of a police pursuit, or become the target of excessive of force or police brutality. Even if the injuries were not intentionally inflicted, you may have grounds for a California personal injury case.
Anaheim pays $300,000 to shootout bystanders, OC Register, October 31, 2010
Related Web Resources:
Police Department, City of Anaheim
Use of Force, US Department of Justice
Shielded from Justice: Police Brutality and Accountability in the United States, HRWatch.org
