Ex-LAPD Employee’s Suit Is Settled for $1.85 Million

The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday approved a $1.85-million settlement of a lawsuit filed by a former civilian police employee against the LAPD, despite criticism from some council members who said the city attorney is failing to protect the city’s interests.

The case, stemming from a 1991 incident involving employee Jennifer Jones, is not the largest settlement the city has paid out in recent months. But it joins a list of cases fueling council complaints that City Atty. James K. Hahn is not fighting aggressively enough on behalf of the city.

“I think it’s outrageous,” said Councilman Joel Wachs, who voted against the settlement. “I really have to question how well our lawyers are serving us.”

Hahn countered that judgments and settlements against the city have been decreasing, and said the complaints are unfairly focusing on a few cases.

Adding that the city has successfully defended several major cases, Hahn said: “They [the council] notice it when we lose because they have to pay money. But I don’t remember Joel Wachs ever calling us up and saying, ‘Great job, you won.’ ”

The Jones case dates from an incident outside Parker Center in which she was struck by officers.

Wachs and Councilman Rudy Svorinich, who also opposed the settlement, said they believe that Jones provoked the incident, striking an officer in the face with her keys hard enough to draw blood. Councilman Nate Holden also cast a dissenting vote.

The officers were simply defending themselves, Svorinich said.

Jones’ attorney Chuck Mazursky told it differently. He said Jones, a nine-year department veteran, was rushing to her job as a felony supervisor in Parker Center’s jail division when police stopped her and demanded her identification.

Jones had an exemplary record with the department and had been among the first women to rise to her position, Mazursky said. That day, she was wearing thongs and a loose blouse because her uniform and ID were in her locker.

Jones argued. The dispute escalated. She says the officers shoved her and she struck one accidentally; police say an officer hit her with a baton because she became violent, Mazursky said.

Though the bruise she suffered healed, Jones became depressed, Mazursky said. She was later fired, then reinstated, but has since retired on disability.

Jones’ lawsuit alleged that the police used unreasonable force, causing her to suffer post traumatic stress disorder, and lose wages and pension benefits, Mazursky said.

A jury awarded her $1.9 million. The city appealed, and with the appeal still pending, the city attorneys forged the $1.85-million settlement. Wednesday’s 10-3 council vote will finalize the settlement.