Skip navigation
× You have 2 more free articles available this month. Subscribe today.

District Court Awards over $300,000 in Attorney’s Fees in LAPD Excessive Force Case

In March 2011, the Honorable George H. King, U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California, awarded $299,400 in attorneys' fees and $4,317.44 in costs to a plaintiff who prevailed on her claims of excessive force and battery against City of Los Angeles police officer Jose Castaneda.

In 2007, Tesha Taylor-Ewing filed suit in federal court alleging that she had sustained physical injuries as well as emotional distress at the hands of Officer Castaneda. She claimed that Castaneda had used excessive force in the course of handcuffing her; she also claimed that Castaneda battered her.

In November 2010, after a trial, a jury awarded Taylor-Ewing $160,000 in compensatory damages and $300 in punitive damages. As prevailing party, Taylor-Ewing moved for attorneys' fees and costs pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988. Source: Taylor-Ewing v. City of Los Angeles, case no. CV 07-5556-GHK (SSx) (U.S.D.C., C.D. Cal. 2010), Order re: Plaintiff's Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Costs Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988 (filed March 31, 2011).

As a digital subscriber to Prison Legal News, you can access full text and downloads for this and other premium content.

Subscribe today

Already a subscriber? Login

Related legal case

Taylor-Ewing v. City of Los Angeles