L.A. to Pay $225,000 to Settle Rock Musicians’ Police-Abuse Lawsuit

The city of Los Angeles will pay $225,000 to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by two rock musicians injured by police in a 1988 Studio City incident, the city attorney’s office said Tuesday.

Caleb Quinn, 23, of San Francisco and Mara Fox, 27, of Los Angeles were hit with batons and allegedly kicked by Los Angeles police officers who burst into the apartment early on the morning of Nov. 26, 1988, after questioning a youth who was staying there about reports of a possible burglary.

Police claimed Quinn and Fox interfered with them. Quinn suffered a broken ankle, police said, when he was struck by a baton after trying to kick an officer.

The suit named Chief Daryl F. Gates and four North Hollywood Division officers who were at the scene: Sgts. Patrick Dailey and William Meier and Officers John Baumgartner and Jeff Dunn.

U.S. District Judge William J. Rea approved the settlement, which must be approved by the City Council. Quinn is to receive $90,000 and Fox $40,000. The remainder will go for court and lawyer fees, their attorney, Hugh R. Manes said.

Deputy City Atty. John Wright declined to say why the city agreed to settle. He said he “would have been confident” to go to trial.

The confrontation occurred when several people gathered in Quinn’s mother’s apartment in the 12600 block of Moorpark Street to watch a video of Quinn’s band, Bang, and Fox’s group, Precious Metal, recorded that evening.

Dailey and Meier arrived at the complex about 4 a.m. and found two youths on the roof. One was brought to Quinn’s mother’s apartment, where he was staying.

Manes said in an interview Tuesday that the officers became abusive when Quinn’s mother, Patricia, said they could not enter.

“When Caleb came up and asked what’s happening, they immediately seized him, pulled him into the apartment, threw him on the kitchen floor and began to beat him with their nightsticks,” Manes said.

Fox attempted to intervene and was struck with a baton and kicked in the face, Manes said. Baumgartner and Dunn arrived during the confrontation.

Quinn and Fox were arrested on suspicion of assault on a police officer. They pleaded no contest to disturbing the peace.