Judge Upholds $189,894 Verdict Against Sheriff
A federal judge Monday refused to overturn a $189,894 verdict in a civil rights lawsuit against Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Brad Gates and refused to order a new trial.
Eric L. Dobberteen, one of Gates’ attorneys, said no decision has been made on whether to appeal the verdict delivered here by U.S. District Judge Richard A. Gadbois Jr.
On March 15, a six-member jury handed down the verdict against Gates and also against the county and one of Gates’ former informants.
The suit was filed by Preston Guillory, a private investigator, after his acquittal of misdemeanor charges of impersonating an officer and illegally carrying a concealed weapon. Guillory alleged that Gates pursued the case against him because he is a political opponent of the sheriff.
Guillory had also sued Anaheim police and prosecutors, but the same jury found them blameless.
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