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Protester Awarded Over $2 Million in Police Brutality Case

A jury has awarded at least $2.2 million to a protester who was shot in the face with a less-lethal projectile by a Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy during a demonstration against police brutality in 2020. The verdict found LA County liable for the injuries sustained by Cellin Gluck, awarding him $3.5 million in damages, with his daughter also receiving $300,000 for emotional distress.

Gluck, a film director, claimed that during a peaceful protest following the killing of George Floyd, he and his daughter were subjected to excessive force. While leaving the scene, Gluck approached a distressed protester who had been hit with a beanbag. Although unarmed and not engaged in any violent act, Gluck was hit in the face with a nonlethal projectile, causing him to fall and suffer severe injuries, including permanent disfigurement and traumatic brain injury.

The projectile lodged in his nasal cavity for nearly a year before surgical removal, leaving Gluck with lasting physical effects. His attorney stated that Gluck’s doctors believe he will face ongoing consequences for the rest of his life. The jury’s decision was reduced by 35% because of findings that Gluck and other protesters shared some fault, leading to a final award of approximately $2.27 million for him and $195,000 for his daughter.

LA County officials indicated they are considering an appeal and emphasized that a different department administration is now in place. Lawyers noted that law enforcement training prohibits targeting individuals above the shoulders unless there is a deadly threat, and the inability to identify the specific deputy involved in the shooting was a significant issue.

The use of less-lethal munitions by police has recently been scrutinized again, especially after protests in downtown LA against federal immigration crackdowns. Journalists and protesters have been injured or shot by law enforcement in such instances, prompting legal actions including a federal restraining order against police use of rubber projectiles against journalists.

In California, claims must be filed before lawsuits over police misconduct can proceed, highlighting ongoing concerns about the use of force during protests.

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