LOS ANGELES : King’s Eyesight Is Not Impaired, Doctor Testifies
Rodney G. King’s smashed eye socket was remarkably well-repaired by “first-class” surgeons and there is no evidence that his beating by police left his sight impaired, a doctor said Thursday.
Dr. Jerry Donin, testifying in King’s multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the city, said he examined King in January and came away feeling the operation on King’s eye socket was a “surgical tour de force.”
Donin was called as part of the city’s attempt to minimize King’s damage award. King has asked for $9.6 million and rejected an offer to settle the case for $1.25 million.
King’s lawyers called medical experts who said the March 3, 1991, beating he received from police has left King with permanent brain damage and blurred vision, headaches and an inability to concentrate. One expert said King is now at risk of developing glaucoma, cataracts or detached retinas.
Donin said he saw no such signs and testified that King’s vision is so good he doesn’t need glasses. He said King had mild problems with depth perception but said, “I don’t know why that is.”
The first phase of the trial is to determine compensatory damages to be paid by the city. A second phase will address individual liability by police officers and other defendants for punitive damages.
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