Lawsuit Against 2 Officers Rejected
After a two-week trial, a federal jury in Los Angeles turned down a lawsuit filed against two Simi Valley police officers and also awarded the pair $500 each in damages.
On an 8-0 vote Thursday, jurors denied the 2-year-old, $30-million lawsuit filed against Detectives Gene Hostetler and John Parks, according to Simi Valley City Atty. John Torrance. The trial took place in the courtroom of Senior District Judge Robert M. Takasugi.
The detectives were named in the lawsuit filed by truck driver David Childress, who was shot 13 times in front of his Hollywood hotel room after he pulled a gun on the detectives.
The detectives, who remain on the Simi Valley police force, were attempting to question Childress about an auto theft when the April 27, 1995, incident occurred. They were previously cleared of any criminal liability for shooting Childress.
The jury awarded Hostetler and Parks $250 in general damages and $250 in punitive damages apiece.
Childress’ attorney, Richard Hamlish, could not be reached for comment Friday.
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