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$1.2 Million Settlement for Minor Injured in Detention Race Riot

The county of Los Angeles paid $1.2 million to settle a lawsuit filed by a juvenile who was seriously injured during a riot.

According to the county’s Summary Corrective Action plan, a riot occurred at Camp Miller, a facility under the probation department’s purview. The November 1, 2008, disturbance began after minors entering a dorm saw an African-American minor strike a Hispanic minor from behind.

A “race riot” then began due to insufficient staff, failure to follow established safety procedures, and failure to provide necessary and appropriate security measures, charged the lawsuit filed by the plaintiff, Nathaniel Marshall.

During the riot, Marshall sustained head and neck injuries, which required ambulance transport and an airlift to the UCLA Medical Center, after the riot between 30 to 40 minors was quelled. Further information on his injuries was unavailable.

The county decided in December 2014 to settle the matter for $1.2 million. Prior to that decision it spent $579,203 in attorney fees and $154,936 litigating the matter. To remedy problems at Camp Miller, the minor population was reduced and staff increased. It also revised its policies and is implementing Department of Justice requirements. See: Marshall v. County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No. BC430969.

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Related legal case

Marshall v. County of Los Angeles