LOS ANGELES (AP) — The city of Los Angeles has been ordered to pay $11.8 million to a man who lost his sight in one eye after being struck by a police projectile during celebrations for the Dodgers 2020 World Series victory.
A federal jury made the decision on Thursday, following a case presented by 27-year-old Isaac Castellanos. He was a student when he was hit in the face by the projectile during a peaceful celebration in downtown Los Angeles on October 28, 2020.
Castellanos, who was blinded in one eye, filed a federal lawsuit in 2022, claiming excessive force was used. The lawsuit stated that officers from the Los Angeles Police Department advanced on the crowd and began firing projectiles, known as “ less lethal” munitions, without issuing a warning. These munitions can include rubber bullets and bean bags.
The jury reached its verdict after deliberating for under two hours. Castellanos, sitting with his legal team, was visibly emotional.
“He is incredibly relieved and feels very vindicated,” stated his attorney, Monique Alarcon. “He’s really hopeful … that this will cause the LAPD to take a hard look at their crowd control practices.”
The LA City Attorney’s office did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
At the time of the incident, Castellanos was a senior at California State University, Long Beach. According to Alarcon, he had a promising career ahead as a professional esports player. Just weeks before being injured, he had secured first place in a tournament, earning a $40,000 prize with a teammate.
“He was at a pivotal point in his life … and this completely derailed him,” Alarcon commented.
The LAPD has faced multiple lawsuits concerning its use of less lethal munitions for crowd management.
In June, during protests against the Trump administration’s immigration policies, journalists were hit by projectiles, prompting a federal judge to ban the LAPD from using rubber bullets and other similar munitions against members of the press.
In January, another federal judge issued an injunction preventing the LAPD from deploying 40 mm launchers, a type of less lethal munition, during crowd control situations.
California, in 2021, implemented restrictions on the use of less lethal munitions. These measures require that all other options to control a crowd be exhausted first. Police are prohibited from aiming indiscriminately into a crowd or targeting the head, neck, or other vital areas. Additionally, they cannot use force solely in response to curfew violations, verbal threats, or non-compliance with police instructions.
