Introduction to the Settlement
The Los Angeles City Council has agreed to an $18 million settlement with two brothers who were severely injured in a collision caused by a speeding LAPD vehicle, officials announced Wednesday.
The council voted 10-3 to approve the settlement in a closed session Tuesday, which was later signed by Mayor Karen Bass. Attorneys reached the agreement on the seventh day of a 14-day trial, with the money to be dispersed over the next three years.
Voting Details
Council members Tim McOsker, Adrin Nazarian, and Traci Park voted against the settlement, while members Curren Price and Monica Rodriguez were absent during the vote.
Statement from Plaintiffs’ Attorney
“From the beginning of this case and continuing through the trial, the city denied responsibility for the actions of its officers and shifted blame to Stephen and Richard Paper, all the while minimizing their injuries and the damages they suffered as a result of the collision,” according to a statement from plaintiffs’ attorney Robert Glassman. “When the evidence was presented at trial and the truth became inescapable, the city raised the white flag.”
“The settlement will not make our clients whole, but it will enable them to get the treatment they need so they can move forward with their lives,” Glassman added.
City Attorney’s Office Response
Ivor Pine, a spokesman for the City Attorney’s Office, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Attorneys Justin Sanders and Robert Dixon of Sanders Roberts LLP represented the city in this lawsuit.
Background of the Case
The case stemmed from a collision that occurred on June 4, 2024, at Balboa and Burbank boulevards in Encino.
While on duty, LAPD Officer Jason Stevenson allegedly accelerated his vehicle to 80 mph — well above the posted speed limit — without activating his lights or sirens, and crashed into the vehicle occupied by Stephen and Richard Paper, according to their attorneys.
Injuries and Investigation
Both brothers suffered severe injuries such as skull and facial fractures, brain bleeds, and numerous spinal and body fractures, which required multiple surgeries and intensive rehabilitation.
An investigation by the LAPD’s Multi-Disciplinary Collision Investigation Team concluded that Stevenson was solely responsible for the collision.
According to Paper’s attorneys, the collision and aftermath were captured on video.
Trial Details
During the trial, an attorney for the city told the jury that Stephen Paper was responsible for the collision because he allegedly made an unsafe left turn, and sought to minimize the Paper brothers’ damages, emphasizing that they were in their 70s and lived in rural Minnesota, according to the law firm representing the brothers.
Witnesses, on behalf of the brothers, testified that the LAPD officer was solely at fault, and the Paper brothers will suffer lifelong injuries as a result of the crash.
Conclusion
The $18 million settlement approved for the two brothers injured in the crash caused by a speeding LAPD vehicle marks a significant step towards justice and compensation for the severe injuries they sustained. The settlement highlights the importance of accountability and the need for law enforcement agencies to prioritize public safety.
FAQs
- How much was the settlement approved for the two brothers?
- The settlement approved was $18 million.
- What was the cause of the collision?
- The collision was caused by a speeding LAPD vehicle.
- Who was responsible for the collision according to the investigation?
- The LAPD’s Multi-Disciplinary Collision Investigation Team concluded that Officer Jason Stevenson was solely responsible for the collision.
- What were the injuries sustained by the brothers?
- The brothers suffered severe injuries including skull and facial fractures, brain bleeds, and numerous spinal and body fractures.
- How will the settlement be dispersed?
- The money will be dispersed over the next three years.
