This California Police Department is Constantly Being Sued for Causing Head Injuries
A run-in with the police in California can leave you with serious, life-altering injuries – even if you have done nothing wrong. Police officers who use excessive force may leave you with head injuries, including concussions and TBIs (traumatic brain injuries). Sometimes, these head injuries never truly heal – causing personality issues, depression, social withdrawal, and many other mental health issues. Head injuries may also cause physical health consequences such as loss of motor control, paralysis, weakness, and others. If you have suffered these injuries at the hands of police officers in California, you might be considering taking legal action.
Fortunately, suing for a head injury might be easier than you think. Many victims of police violence have received considerable settlements in recent years, and you could do the same. These settlements can help cover your medical expenses, missed wages, and emotional distress. Although nothing can ever change what you experienced, this may provide a sense of justice and closure that allows you to move on and heal as best you can.
The Vallejo Police Department Has Paid Out Numerous Settlements for Head Injuries
Over the past few years, police departments in California have paid out numerous settlements for head injuries caused by excessive force and other misconduct. In December of 2022, a Marine veteran was tackled by police on his own property in Vallejo. His only crime was filming a police officer. The officer was in the process of stopping the victim’s cousin for an alleged traffic violation. The police officer realized that he was being filmed and ordered the victim to get back. This was despite the fact that the victim was standing on his own porch at a distance of about 25 feet from the officer.
Knowing that it was perfectly legal to both film a police officer and reside on one’s own property, the victim refused to back up. At this point, the officer approached the property owner and veteran and informed him that he was under arrest. The cell phone footage failed to capture what happened next in detail, although it seems clear that the veteran complied with the arrest verbally. The officer can then be heard telling the victim to “stop resisting.” At this point, the victim claims that he was thrown violently to the ground, causing his head to impact a wooden pillar on the porch.
He was then placed in the back of the police vehicle, but the officer apparently decided to release him after discovering that he was a veteran. Not satisfied, the victim decided to sue the Vallejo Police Department for his head injuries and received a $300,000 settlement. The same officer was involved in another excessive force lawsuit that also involved head injuries. Video footage from a bystander captured this officer punching and elbowing a suspect while he was being held down. That case led to a $270,000 settlement.
In May of 2022, the Vallejo Police Department settled another lawsuit over an illegal entry that resulted in a victim suffering a concussion, PTSD, and mild traumatic brain injury. This lawsuit was filed back in 2020 after his home was illegally entered by three police officers and a sergeant. The victim was talking on the phone with his wife when the police burst through the garage door of a home he was renting. They proceeded to hold him down and beat him savagely – despite the fact that he never resisted and had no weapons.
The police told a very different story – claiming that they spotted a van that had crashed into the garage. They say that this caused the police to enter the home and search for injured occupants of the van. They then apparently found a “dead body in the bedroom,” causing them to order the victim to show his hands. According to the police, the victim refused these commands in both Spanish and English. Later, they conveniently discovered that the person they found in the bedroom was not actually dead.
Whatever the case may be, it is illegal to enter someone’s home without a warrant in almost all situations. Even if the victim failed to show his hands, the absence of weapons in the home makes it very difficult to justify such excessive force. This is probably why the victim eventually received a settlement of $120,000. Despite this, one of the officers involved in the incident has since been promoted – and none were fired.
These are just a few of the many examples of lawsuits faced by the Vallejo Police Department over the years. Another recent lawsuit resulted in a $150,000-settlement for a head injury victim who was tackled by three undercover officers in a church. It was later determined that this individual had done nothing wrong, and it was a case of mistaken identity. Another head injury lawsuit ended in a $750,000 settlement, and this case involved a man being assaulted by officers as he tried to fix his fence.
The city’s attorney’s office has warned that further lawsuits are ongoing, and they could result in $50 million of future payouts to victims of the VPD. Many other lawsuits against the Vallejo Police Department involve deceased victims who were killed by officers.
Where Can I Find a Qualified, Experienced Head Injury Lawyer?
If you have been searching for a qualified, experienced head injury lawyer in California, look no further than Mary Alexander & Associates. Over the years, we have helped numerous head injury victims. We know that police officers often act negligently – and you deserve justice for this misconduct. Based on recent settlements paid to victims of police violence in recent years, it’s clear that achieving justice is possible.
But in order to achieve the same results, you need to get in touch with a qualified lawyer. Book a consultation with us at your earliest convenience, because the statute of limitations may prevent you from suing if you wait too long. Reach out today and get started with an effective action plan.
