Local News in Brief : $300,000 to Be Paid in Stun Gun Case
A teen-ager who was tortured with an electric stun gun during interrogation by two Huntington Park police officers agreed Wednesday to settle his federal lawsuit against the city and the officers for $300,000.
Jaime Ramirez, who was 17 at the time of the Nov. 30, 1986, interrogation, had sued for $10 million, alleging that the officers violated his civil rights.
Thomas E. Beck, co-counsel for Ramirez, said the $300,000 settlement was fair compensation for psychological injuries--including nightmares and general insecurity--suffered by Ramirez, who was burned by the stun gun but suffered no serious physical injuries.
In criminal proceedings stemming from the incident, former Officers William J. Lustig and Robert Rodriguez were convicted last December of felony assault under color of authority and misdemeanor inhumane treatment of a prisoner.
A jury found that Lustig had applied the stun gun to Ramirez’s leg while questioning the youth about a car burglary. Jurors concluded that Rodriguez did not use the stun gun but aided Lustig.
Lustig was sentenced to two years in prison. Rodriguez served 64 days in County Jail and was released last April.
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