Cesar Octavio Otero et al v. City of Los Angeles et al

Filing 127

JUDGMENT by Magistrate Judge Carla Woehrle, IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED: 1. That judgment be, and hereby is, entered in favor of the Defendants and against the Plaintiffs; 2. That the Plaintiffs shall take nothing; 3. That the Defendants recover their costs of suit herein. Related to: Notice of Lodging 125 (MD JS-6, Case Terminated). (lmh)

Cesar Octavio Otero et al v. City of Los Angeles et al

Doc. 127

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA ) ) ) ) ) Plaintiffs, ) ) vs. ) ) CITY OF LOS ANGELES, OFFICER ) YOUNG, #34444, OFFICER BRIGHT, ) #34313, OFFICER LEVANT, #35007, ) OFFICER YAMZON, #35670, OFFICER ) TARJAMO, #33948, OFFICER ) WILLIAMS, #25458, individually and as ) peace officers, ) ) Defendants. ) __________________________________ ) Case No. CV05-4248 CW DEFENDANTS' JUDGMENT ON SPECIAL VERDICT Trial Judge: Carla Woehrle Courtroom: 640 - Roybal

CESAR OCTAVIO OTERO, DIANA 12 RAYOS, FERNANDO QUINTANA, FERNANDO QUINTANA, JR. and 13 JUDY QUINTANA, 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

This action came on regularly for trial by jury on September 8, 2010, with

23 attorney Thomas E. Beck appearing for Plaintiffs CESAR OCTAVIO OTERO, 24 DIANA RAYOS, and FERNANDO QUINTANA, JR. And FERNANDO 25 QUINTANA and JUDY QUINTANA, appearing in person. Defendants, JEFFREY 26 BRIGHT, ERIC YOUNG, HANNU TARJAMO, MICHAEL LEVANT, DAVID 27 STAMBAUGH, JOSEPH YAMZON and EARL WILLIAMS appearing in person and 28 by and through RICHARD M. ARIAS, Deputy City Attorney; a jury of eight persons
1
Dockets.Justia.com

1 duly impaneled and sworn; witnesses testified; evidence was received; and after being 2 duly instructed by the court, the jury deliberated and thereon returned the following 3 special verdict: 4 5 6 7 "TITLE OF COURT AND CAUSE" 8 10 11 Question No. 1 12 13 14 15 1 6 1. 1 7 2. 1 8 3. 1 9 4. 2 0 5. 2 1 6. 2 2 7. 23 24 25 26 Question No. 2 27 Did Defendant Officers use unreasonable force in detaining and/or arresting the 28 Plaintiff, Fernando Quintana, Sr.?
2

JUDGMENT ON SPECIAL VERDICT

"WE, THE JURY in the above-entitled action, find the following Special

9 Verdict on the questions submitted to us:

Did Defendant Officers unreasonably search Plaintiff's residence? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant David Stambaugh Joseph Yamzon Earl Williams _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes __X__No _ _ X_ _ N o _ _ X_ _ N o __X__No __X__No __X __No __X_ _ N o

Now proceed to answer question No. 2.

1 2 3 1. 4 2. 5 3. 6 7 8

Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young David Stambaugh _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes __X__No _ _ X_ _ N o __X__No

Now proceed to answer question No. 3.

9 Question No. 3 10 12 13 14 1 5 1. 16 17 18 19 Question No. 4 20 22 23 24 2 5 1. 26 27 28
3

Did Defendant Officers use unreasonable force in detaining and/or arresting the

11 Plaintiff, Judy Quintana? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. David Stambaugh _____Yes __X__No

Now proceed to answer question No. 4.

Did Defendant Officers use unreasonable force in detaining and/or arresting the

21 Plaintiff, Diana Rayos? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Michael Levant _____Yes __X__No

Now proceed to answer question No. 5.

1 Question No. 5 2 4 5 6 7 1. 8 2. 9 3. 1 0 4. 1 1 5. 1 2 6. 1 3 7. 14 15 16 17 Question No. 6 18 20 21 22 2 3 1. 24 25 26 27 28
4

Did Defendant Officers use unreasonable force in detaining and/or arresting the

3 Plaintiff, Cesar Octavio Otero? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant David Stambaugh Joseph Yamzon Earl Williams _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes __X__No _ _ X_ _ N o _ _ X_ _ N o __X__No __X__No __X __No __X_ _ N o

Now proceed to answer question No. 6.

Did Defendant Officers use unreasonable force in detaining and/or arresting the

19 Plaintiff, Fernando Quintana, Jr.? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Michael Levant _____Yes __X__No

Now proceed to answer question No. 7.

1 Question No. 7 2 4 5 6 7 1. 8 2. 9 10 11 12 Question No. 8 13 15 16 17 1 8 1. 1 9 2. 20 21 22 23 Question No. 9 24 26 27 28
5

Did Defendant Officers have reasonable suspicion to detain and/or probable

3 cause to arrest the Plaintiff, Fernando Quintana, Sr.? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young __X__Yes __X__Yes _____No _____No

Now proceed to answer question No. 8.

Did Defendant Officers have reasonable suspicion to detain and/or probable

14 cause to arrest the Plaintiff, Judy Quintana? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young __X__Yes __X__Yes _____No _____No

Now proceed to answer question No. 9.

Did Defendant Officers have reasonable suspicion to detain and/or probable

25 cause to arrest the Plaintiff, Diana Rayos? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant.

1 1. 2 2. 3 3. 4 5 6

Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Michael Levant

__X__Yes __X__Yes __X__Yes

_____No _____No _____No

Now proceed to answer question No. 10.

7 Question No. 10 8 10 11 12 1 3 1. 1 4 2. 1 5 3. 1 6 4. 1 7 5. 1 8 6. 19 20 21 22 Question No. 11 23 25 26 27 2 8 1. Jeffrey Bright __X__Yes
6

Did Defendant Officers have reasonable suspicion to detain and/or probable

9 cause to arrest the Plaintiff, Cesar Octavio Otero? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant Joseph Yamzon Earl Williams __X__Yes __X__Yes __X__Yes __X__Yes __X__Yes __X__Yes _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No

Now proceed to answer question No. 11.

Did Defendant Officers have reasonable suspicion to detain and/or probable

24 cause to arrest the Plaintiff, Fernando Quintana, Jr.? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. _____No

1 2. 2 3. 3 4 5

Eric Young Michael Levant

__X__Yes __X__Yes

_____No _____No

Now proceed to answer question No. 12.

6 Question No. 12 7 8 9 10 1 1 1. 1 2 2. 1 3 3. 14 15 16 17 Question No. 13 18 19 20 2 1 1. 2 2 2. 2 3 3. 24 25 26 27 Question No. 14 28 Did any Officer falsely arrest and/or imprison Plaintiff, Diana Rayos?
7

Did any Officer falsely arrest and/or imprison Plaintiff, Fernando Quintana, Sr.? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Any other LAPD officer _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes __X__No _ _ X_ _ N o __X__No

Now proceed to answer question No. 13.

Did any Officer falsely arrest and/or imprison Plaintiff, Judy Quintana? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Any other LAPD officer _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes __X__No _ _ X_ _ N o __X__No

Now proceed to answer question No. 14.

1 2 3 1. 4 2. 5 6 7

Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Michael Levant Any other LAPD officer _____Yes _____Yes __X__No __X__No

Now proceed to answer question No. 15.

8 Question No. 15 9 10 11 12 1 3 1. 1 4 2. 1 5 3. 1 6 4. 1 7 5. 18 19 20 21 Question No. 16 22 23 24 25 2 6 1. 2 7 2. 2 8 3. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Michael Levant _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes
8

Did any Officer falsely arrest and/or imprison Plaintiff, Cesar Octavio Otero? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant Any other LAPD officer _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes __X__No _ _ X_ _ N o _ _ X_ _ N o __X__No __X__No

Now proceed to answer question No. 16.

Did any Officer falsely arrest and/or imprison Plaintiff, Fernando Quintana, Jr.? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. __X__No _ _ X_ _ N o __X__No

1 4. 2 3 4

Any other LAPD officer

_____Yes

__X__No

Now proceed to answer question No. 17.

5 Question No. 17 6 7 8 9 1 0 1. 1 1 2. 1 2 3. 1 3 4. 14 15 16 17 Question No. 18 18 19 20 21 2 2 1. 2 3 2. 24 25 26 27 Question No. 19 28 Did any Officer assault and/or batter Plaintiff, Diana Rayos?
9

Did any Officer assault and/or batter Plaintiff, Fernando Quintana, Sr.? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young David Stambaugh Any other LAPD officer _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes __X__No _ _ X_ _ N o __X__No __X__No

Now proceed to answer question No. 18.

Did any Officer assault and/or batter Plaintiff, Judy Quintana? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. David Stambaugh Any other LAPD officer _____Yes _____Yes __X__No __X__No

Now proceed to answer question No. 19.

1 2 3 1. 4 2. 5 3. 6 7 8

Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Michael Levant Joseph Yamzon Any other LAPD officer _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes __X__No __X __No __X__No

Now proceed to answer question No. 20.

9 Question No. 20 10 11 12 1 3 1. 1 4 2. 1 5 3. 1 6 4. 1 7 5. 1 8 6. 1 9 7. 2 0 8. 21 22 23 24 Question No. 21 25 26 27 28
10

Did any Officer assault and/or batter Plaintiff, Cesar Octavio Otero? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant David Stambaugh Joseph Yamzon Earl Williams Any other LAPD officer _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes __X__No _ _ X_ _ N o _ _ X_ _ N o __X__No __X__No __X __No __X_ _ N o __X__No

Now proceed to answer question No. 21.

Did any Officer assault and/or batter Plaintiff, Fernando Quintana, Jr.? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant.

1 1. 2 2. 3 4

Michael Levant Any other LAPD officer

_____Yes _____Yes

__X__No __X__No

If you answered "No" to Questions 1 - 6 and 12 - 21 as to all named defendant

5 officers and "any other LAPD officer," and answered "Yes" to Questions 7 - 11 as to 6 all named defendant officers, then have your foreperson date, sign and turn in this 7 8 9 11 12 Question No. 22 13 What do you find to be the total amount of damages, if any, suffered by any 14 Plaintiff caused by either the unreasonable search, detention and/or arrest, the use of 15 excessive and/or unreasonable force, the false arrest and/or imprisonment and/or the 16 assault and battery of any Plaintiff? 17 1 8 1. 1 9 2. 2 0 3. 2 1 4. 2 2 5. 23 24 If you answered "Yes" to Questions 1 - 6 and 12 - 21, or answered "No" to 25 Questions 7 - 11, as to any named defendant officers, then proceed to answer Questions 26 23 through 37 as to that officer or officers only. 27 28
11

special verdict form. If you answered "Yes" to any of Questions 1 - 6 and 12 - 21, or answered "No"

10 to any of Questions 7 - 11, as to any officer, then go to Question 22,

Fernando Quintana, Sr. Judy Quintana Diana Rayos Cesar Octavio Otero Fernando Quintana, Jr.

Total: Total: Total: Total: Total:

$______________ $______________ $______________ $______________ $______________

1 Question No. 23 2 4 5 6 7 1. 8 2. 9 3. 1 0 4. 1 1 5. 1 2 6. 1 3 7. 14 15 16 17 Question No. 24 18 Do you find that any Defendant Officer's conduct was malicious as to Plaintiff Judy 19 Quintana's rights? 20 21 2 2 1. 2 3 2. 2 4 3. 2 5 4. 2 6 5. 2 7 6. 2 8 7. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant David Stambaugh Joseph Yamzon Earl Williams _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes
12

Do you find that any Defendant Officer's conduct was malicious as to Plaintiff

3 Fernando Quintana, Sr.'s rights? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant David Stambaugh Joseph Yamzon Earl Williams _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No

Now proceed to answer question No. 24.

Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No

1 2

Now proceed to answer question No. 25.

3 Question No. 25 4 Do you find that any Defendant Officer's conduct was malicious as to Plaintiff Diana 5 Rayos's rights? 6 7 8 9 1. 1 0 2. 1 1 3. 1 2 4. 1 3 5. 1 4 6. 1 5 7. 16 17 18 19 Question No. 26 20 Do you find that any Defendant Officer's conduct was malicious as to Plaintiff Cesar 21 Otero's rights? 22 23 24 2 5 1. 2 6 2. 2 7 3. 2 8 4. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes
13

Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant David Stambaugh Joseph Yamzon Earl Williams _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No

Now proceed to answer question No. 26.

Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. _____No _____No _____No _____No

1 5. 2 6. 3 7. 4 5 6

David Stambaugh Joseph Yamzon Earl Williams

_____Yes _____Yes _____Yes

_____No _____No _____No

Now proceed to answer question No. 27.

7 Question No. 27 8 Do you find that any Defendant Officer's conduct was malicious as to Plaintiff 9 Fernando Quintana, Jr.'s rights? 10 11 12 1 3 1. 1 4 2. 1 5 3. 1 6 4. 1 7 5. 1 8 6. 1 9 7. 20 21 22 23 Question No. 28 24 26 27 2 8 1. Jeffrey Bright _____Yes
14

Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant David Stambaugh Joseph Yamzon Earl Williams _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No

Now proceed to answer question No. 28.

Do you find that any Defendant Officer's conduct was oppressive of the Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. _____No

25 Plaintiff, Fernando Quintana, Sr.'s rights?

1 2. 2 3. 3 4. 4 5. 5 6. 6 7. 7 8 9

Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant David Stambaugh Joseph Yamzon Earl Williams

_____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes

_____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No

Now proceed to answer question No. 29

10 Question No. 29 11 13 14 15 1 6 1. 1 7 2. 1 8 3. 1 9 4. 2 0 5. 2 1 6. 2 2 7. 23 24 25 26 Question No. 30 27 Do you find that any Defendant Officer's conduct was oppressive of the 28 Plaintiff, Diana Rayos's rights?
15

Do you find that any Defendant Officer's conduct was oppressive of the

12 Plaintiff, Judy Quintana's rights? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant David Stambaugh Joseph Yamzon Earl Williams _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No

Now proceed to answer question No. 30.

1 2 3 1. 4 2. 5 3. 6 4. 7 5. 8 6. 9 7. 10 11 12

Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant David Stambaugh Joseph Yamzon Earl Williams _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No

Now proceed to answer question No. 31.

13 Question No. 31 14 16 17 1 8 1. 1 9 2. 2 0 3. 2 1 4. 2 2 5. 2 3 6. 2 4 7. 25 26 27 28
16

Do you find that any Defendant Officer's conduct was oppressive of the Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant David Stambaugh Joseph Yamzon Earl Williams _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No

15 Plaintiff, Cesar Otero's rights?

Now proceed to answer question No. 32.

1 Question No. 32 2 4 5 6 1. 7 2. 8 3. 9 4. 1 0 5. 1 1 6. 1 2 7. 13 14 15 16 Question No. 33 17 19 20 21 2 2 1. 2 3 2. 2 4 3. 2 5 4. 2 6 5. 2 7 6. 2 8 7. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant David Stambaugh Joseph Yamzon Earl Williams _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes
17

Do you find that any Defendant Officer's conduct was oppressive of the Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant David Stambaugh Joseph Yamzon Earl Williams _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No

3 Plaintiff, Fernando Quintana, Jr.'s rights?

Now proceed to answer question No. 33.

Do you find that any Defendant Officer's conduct was in reckless

18 disregard of the Plaintiff, Fernando Quintana, Sr.'s rights? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No

1 2

Now proceed to answer question No. 34.

3 Question No. 34 4 6 7 8 9 1. 1 0 2. 1 1 3. 1 2 4. 1 3 5. 1 4 6. 1 5 7. 16 17 18 19 Question No. 35 20 22 23 24 2 5 1. 2 6 2. 2 7 3. 2 8 4. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes
18

Do you find that any Defendant Officer's conduct was in reckless disregard of

5 the Plaintiff, Judy Quintana's rights? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant David Stambaugh Joseph Yamzon Earl Williams _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No

Now proceed to answer question No. 35.

Do you find that any Defendant Officer's conduct was in reckless disregard of

21 the Plaintiff, Diana Rayos' rights? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. _____No _____No _____No _____No

1 5. 2 6. 3 7. 4 5 6

David Stambaugh Joseph Yamzon Earl Williams

_____Yes _____Yes _____Yes

_____No _____No _____No

Now proceed to answer question No. 36.

7 Question No. 36 8 10 11 12 1 3 1. 1 4 2. 1 5 3. 1 6 4. 1 7 5. 1 8 6. 1 9 7. 20 21 22 23 Question No. 37 24 26 27 28
19

Do you find that any Defendant Officer's conduct was in reckless disregard of

9 the Plaintiff, Cesar Otero's rights? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant. Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant David Stambaugh Joseph Yamzon Earl Williams _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No

Now proceed to answer question No. 37.

Do you find that any Defendant Officer's conduct was in reckless disregard of

25 the Plaintiff, Fernando Quintana, Jr.'s rights? Answer "yes" or "no" after the name of the Defendant.

1 1. 2 2. 3 3. 4 4. 5 5. 6 6. 7 7. 8 9 10

Jeffrey Bright Eric Young Hannu Tarjamo Michael Levant David Stambaugh Joseph Yamzon Earl Williams

_____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes _____Yes

_____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No _____No

11 Dated: September 20, 2010 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 DATED: September 27, 2010 26 27 28
20

Signature: _______/s/________________ Presiding Juror

Name printed: ___________/s/____________________

JUDGMENT THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED: 1. 2. 3. That judgment be, and hereby is, entered in favor of the Defendants and That the Plaintiffs shall take nothing; That the Defendants recover their costs of suit herein.

20 against the Plaintiffs;

________________________________ HONORABLE CARLA WOEHRLE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE