Settlement OKd for Kin of Slain Store Manager
Los Angeles County officials Friday agreed to pay the lion’s share of a $130,000 settlement to the family of a jewelry store manager who was mistakenly shot and killed by a sheriff’s sharpshooter during a 13 1/2-hour hostage siege in Beverly Hills in 1986.
The County Claims Board approved the settlement of a lawsuit filed by the family of Hugh Skinner, manager of the Van Cleef & Arpels store who was mistaken for a gunman who earlier had killed two hostages during a botched robbery attempt at the Rodeo Drive store.
Skinner, 63, was slain as suspect Steven Livaditis attempted to escape from the store using three hostages as shields, according to a report by Assistant County Counsel S. Robert Ambrose. Livaditis, who pleaded guilty to the murder of Skinner and two other store employees, is on Death Row.
The payment was among $363,500 in settlements approved Friday involving seven lawsuits against the Sheriff’s Department.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
