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Government,
Civil Litigation

Nov. 29, 2024

Los Angeles is paying out a staggering amount of liability claims and one lawyer says he knows the solution

In October, City Administrative Officer Matthew W. Szabo released a report indicating that the city has exceeded its planned expenditures for the current year by $215.96 million, with the largest overage attributed to escalating liability claims.

Matthew McNicholas

Los Angeles has paid out nearly $1 billion in liability claims since 2020, with approximately 40% stemming from lawsuits filed by its own police officers - a crisis that leading some lawyers and even city officials to question the city's approach to litigation.

"Every employment verdict I have against the city of Los Angeles Fire Department and Police Department - 100% over 20-plus years - the verdict and ultimate judgment have been several multiples larger than the amoun...

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