Landmark Legal Victories
Catalan v. City of Los Angeles, et al.
Plaintiff jailed for murder, but was actually attending an L.A. Dodgers game when the crime was committed. Innocence was proved by video out takes from an HBO episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. This case resulted in an award winning document on Netflix, "Long Shot". Gary handled the civil case after the clients civil case was dismissed after the preliminary hearing.
Settlement: $320,000
Palmer v. City of Los Angeles, et al.
Aka 39th & Dalton Street case
In response to an anonymous phone call, LAPD 77th Division officers took sledgehammers to the interior of a multiple unit dwelling, then rounded up numerous young black men, savagely beating them on the front lawn. A group of plaintiffs represented by a group of civil rights attorneys, including Gary, brought suit.
Settlement: $3,000,000 plus attorney fees
Covin v. City of Inglewood
26-year-old man sleeping in a parked car after eviction from an apartment was shot and killed by Inglewood Police officers, claiming he tried to run them over. Two young sons, 3 and 4, left fatherless in the care of an unemployed young mother.
Verdict: Over $2.7 million in federal court, after $150,000 offer rejected.
The first seven-figure result in federal court in Los Angeles in a police shooting death civil rights case
Coleman v. County of Los Angeles
Man shot six times by LASD deputy, who then planted a gun on him. Felony jury trial of three weeks, resulting in full acquittal in two hours. Jury wrote a note that deputy should be in prison. Civil case joined with larger action of multiple plaintiffs against County of Los Angeles Sheriffs. Case resolved as part of larger $7.5 million settlement of Darren Thomas v. County of Los Angeles, leading to the Kolts Report, which implicated the department deputies in rampant misconduct and appointed an outside monitor to prepare ongoing semi-annual reports of Sheriff's Department activities and misconduct.
Result: The Kolts Report
Friedman v. City of Los Angeles
Developmentally disabled man, walking in circles 45 feet away outside, holding a knife was shot and rendered paraplegic by LAPD officers responding to a domestic disturbance, call at Regional Center residence for disabled tenants.
Pre-trial settlement: $3,250,000
Speaker v. County of San Bernardino
Co-counsel in case regarding fatal shooting of a father on his own front lawn, suffering from Tourette’s Syndrome.
Settlement: $3,500,000
Schulman v. American Riggers, et al.
Plaintiff’s counsel for a homeless man on a mattress in an alley, whose feet were run over by a tractor trailer.
Jury award: $690,000
LA Times coverage of the Schulman case and its interesting epilogue can be found at the MEDIA link above.
Kelly v. Hyundai Motor Company
Products liability case involving defective design of automobile involved in rollover death of female prison guard in a single-vehicle accident. Vehicle designed with shoulder belt, but no lap belt restraint system.
Settlement: Confidential
Reportedly the largest pre-trial settlement ever offered by Hyundai
Murphy v. City of Santa Monica
Plaintiff's decedent was in his small Honda Civic in an alley with a streetwalker when approached by two plainclothes Santa Monica police officers. He attempted to drive away past them to the only exit. He was shot in the back, crashed his car into the median, where he died.
Settlement: $1,300,000
At the time reportedly the largest settlement by the City of Santa Monica in a police force case
People v. Avni
South African computer software repairman seeking payment was arrested for installing "logic bomb" in non-paying client's computer system, which turned off improvements installed by repairman (along with colorful message "death to pirates", etc.) Client arrested, charged with extortion and computer crime after he collected monies owed in exchange for promise to reverse coercive software changes. One of three charges dismissed at preliminary hearing; second charge reversed on "995" motion, jury acquittal on third charge even though judge made ruling appearing to bar defense of justification.
Richardson v. County of Santa Barbara, et al.
A Santa Barbara motorcycle club member, celebrating his first wedding anniversary at a bar in Santa Maria, was struck in the face with a flashlight by a Sheriff's deputy, who charged him with assault on a police officer. Gary defended the felony criminal case, causing the DA’s office to drop all charges two weeks before trial was to begin. A civil case was filed by associate counsel, directed by Casselman, resulting in settlement after the discovery of conspiracy to hide deputy complaint of excessive force and discovery of false arrest of client and favorable witness.
Settlement: $1,000,000
Mares v. City of Los Angeles
Plaintiff Peter Mares, a 29-year-old felon eligible for a 3rd strike, was apprehended after running from LAPD Foothill Division officers, one of whom applied a neck hold. Plaintiff taken to hospital where doctor failed to intubate him and swollen airway led to brain death and vegetative state.
Settlement: $2 million verdict reduced to $1,750,000 after trial
After plaintiff's death 7 months after the verdict, Casselman filed a wrongful death case in state court, yielding a $100,000 settlement for plaintiff's mother
Tillinghast v. Los Angeles Unified School District
13 year old student collapsed on school athletic field during PE class.
School district found liable for his death in failing to inform staff of existence of AED (automated external defibrillator) at school.
Evidence showed (in District's written policy) that boy had a 90 % chance of survival if AED had been timely applied.
$15,000,000 verdict at trial.
Chrisman v. City of Los Angeles
LAPD officer was arrested by Internal Affairs, then terminated from employment based on a fabricated report of domestic violence by a disgruntled female television celebrity that he had dated. She was known to have previously made false allegations against prominent former paramours. After defending officer Chrisman as co-counsel at his Board of Rights hearing, Mr. Casselman petitioned the Court of Appeal to set aside the termination due to unfair, improper process by LAPD. The petition was granted and the police officer and his termination was set aside. Casselman received comment that his published case was helpful to another experienced attorney defending another officer in an administrative disciplinary hearing. Casselman was awarded “private attorney general” fees by this effort, payable by the City of Los Angeles.