Dole v. County of Los Angeles
On Februrary 11, 1989, the Dole family and friends
had a bridal shower in a Cerritos home. Later that evening
the men of the family arrived at the home to participate
in the celebrations.
 During
the festivities the Sheriff's Department allegedly received
a call about party-goers "fighting in the streets
with sticks and knives." More than 100 deputies
arrived at the Cerritos home and kicked down the door.
Deputies stormed into the home pushing, beating, and
handcuffing family members. Some of the family members
suffered broken ribs, fractured bones, and others sustained
blows to the head. Six men were struck in the groin
and one of them required surgery. The deputies claimed
the party-goers threw rocks, bottles, and other items
at them and resisted arrest. Fortunately, a neighbor
videotaped the whole incident.
The district attorney charged three of them in numerous
felony counts. The Dole family hired Mardirossian &
Associates to handle their case. After a four-week preliminary
hearing, a six-week criminal trial commenced. Officers
showed up at trial with cuts and bruises they claim
were caused by the family members. The defense presented
their case along with the videotape of the incident.
After a lengthy deliberation process, the jury delivered
a verdict of NOT GUILTY.
Charges against the remaining family members were all
dropped, and a lawsuit was filed against the County
of Los Angeles for false arrest, violation of civil
rights, excessive force, legal fees, defamation of character,
and punitive damages. The family also alleged the Sheriff's
Department tried to cover up the incident by filing
false reports, procuring false testimony, initiating
malicious prosecution, and failing to adequately investigate
and discipline the deputies who were involved.
During the trial against the County, Mr. Mardirossian
brought numerous witnesses to the stand to testify to
the peacefulness of the party along with the videotape
of the incident. The defense claimed the force used
was necessary because the family violently attacked
the deputies, but none of it was captured on the video.
After twenty-nine weeks the jury found the deputies
guilty and awarded the Doles with the largest police
brutality judgement in U.S. history, $15.9 million.
After the trial, the County appealed the judgment but
it was affirmed by the Court of Appeal, the California
Supreme Court rejected the county's request for a hearing.
Thereafter, the County agreed to pay the verdict along
with the interest.
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