Police Liability

Highway Patrol Chase - Jury Verdict

Our wrongful death police liability specialists obtained a jury verdict in Santa Clara Superior Court against the California Highway Patrol for the death of a husband and father, which resulted from a high-speed chase that covered more than 50 miles. Our attorneys brought suit against the Highway Patrol after they chased a suspect from Contra Costa, across the Golden Gate Bridge, down Highway 280, to San Jose, where he collided with a car containing the decedent, who was on his way home from work. Our attorneys demonstrated that the CHP officers violated internal policy and procedure manuals and exposed the public to great danger by instigating a high-speed chase when the "suspect" was wanted for nothing more than a traffic violation. (As a result of this verdict, the legislature changed state law to immunize police departments from chase liability.)

Police Shooting - Settlement

Our wrongful death attorneys obtained a settlement on behalf of the surviving parents of a 20-year-old woman who was killed by police gunfire while she sat in the back seat of her car. Police had stopped the vehicle in order to speak with her boyfriend who was seated alongside her. The police claimed that the vehicle was moving, in an attempt to escape, when shots were fired. Our wrongful death team proved, through the use of expert witnesses, that the vehicle was not moving and that the police violated their internal shooting manuals as well as standard police training, in discharging their weapons at the unarmed vehicle occupants.

Police Misconduct - $1.5 Million Settlement

Our wrongful death specialists negotiated a settlement in the amount of $1,500,000 against a local police department for the wrongful death of a bank executive who was mistakenly arrested for being drunk in public. In fact, the decedent had fallen and suffered from a subdural hematoma. Under the police department's then-existing policy, "suspected drunks" were placed in holding cells until they sobered up. After the deceased could not be roused after five hours in a district station, medical personnel were summoned, but it was too late to prevent his death from global brain damage.

Contact our California fatal accident lawyers today. Make an appointment for a FREE CONSULTATION to discuss your family's potential wrongful death claim. Call 1.888.564.8254 or 1.415.658.9310.

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The wrongful death attorneys at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger represent the families of wrongful death victims in California and Nevada, including the cities of San Jose, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Fresno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek, Concord, San Rafael, Napa, Redwood City, Stockton, Modesto, Los Angeles, San Diego, Reno, Las Vegas, Elko, Carson City and Tahoe.