Woman Wins $112,000 in Brutality Case Against Police

A Burbank Superior Court jury has ordered the City of Los Angeles and two police officers to pay $112,000 to a woman who said the officers brutally beat her after her arrest on suspicion of drunk driving.

The jury ruled Wednesday that Elizabeth M. Frazier, 42, of Van Nuys should receive $100,000 in compensatory damages from the city. The jury also ordered Los Angeles Police Officer Lamuel T. Kendall, 37, to pay $10,000 in punitive damages and Officer Dana Hansen, 30, to pay $2,000 in punitive damages.

Frazier, a manager for an auto repair shop, testified during her eight-day trial that the two officers stomped her several times on the legs, broke her nose and hit her behind the ears with a baton when they arrested her in September, 1982.

Deputy City Atty. Honey A. Lewis, who represented the officers, denied Frazier’s charges. She said her office had not yet decided whether to appeal the decision.

Both officers are still on active duty in the North Hollywood Division, she said.

Virgil Wells, an attorney for Frazier, said Frazier was intoxicated when the officers took her into custody in the 4000 block of St. Clair Avenue in North Hollywood.

An argument ensued between Kendall and Frazier after the officers handcuffed Frazier and put her in the police car, Wells said. He said Kendall dragged Frazier out of the car, stomped her 20 times on the legs and another 15 times on her feet.