LOS ANGELES – A jury recently awarded a total of $2.2 million to a protester shot in the face with a less-lethal round during a demonstration against police brutality in May 2020. The shooter was identified as a deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Cellin Gluck, the injured protester, sustained severe facial injuries that resulted in permanent damages, leading the jury to conclude that he deserved $3.5 million in total damages. Gluck’s daughter, who was also present at the protest, received an additional $300,000 for emotional distress arising from the incident.
Despite the jury’s decision, LA County’s attorneys stated that the awards would be reduced by 35% due to the jury’s finding of shared fault. This adjustment means Gluck will ultimately receive about $2.27 million and his daughter approximately $195,000.
Gluck, a film director known for works such as “Oba: The Last Samurai” and “Persona Non Grata,” filed the lawsuit after he and his daughter experienced what they allege was excessive force during a peaceful protest in the wake of George Floyd’s death. As they were returning to their vehicle after the demonstration, Gluck approached another protester who reported being struck by a beanbag round. Moments later, he was unexpectedly hit in the face with a similar nonlethal projectile, all while holding only a camera.
In the trial, Gluck’s legal team emphasized that he was unarmed and behaving peacefully when the deputy fired the shot, which caused him to fall backward. The projectile lodged in his nasal cavity and remained there for almost a year before it was surgically removed, resulting in permanent disfigurement and traumatic brain injury.
Carl Douglas, Gluck’s attorney, expressed that while the verdict is a step toward justice, it falls short of compensating for the extensive and ongoing impacts of Gluck’s injuries. Douglas noted that medical professionals have informed Gluck he will have to manage these consequences for the rest of his life.
The attorney also criticized the county’s failure to identify the specific deputy involved, labeling this a significant deficiency within the law enforcement system. Douglas pointed out that without accountability, similar incidents are likely to perpetuate.
The LA County Sheriff’s Department acknowledged the verdict and stated that with new leadership in place, there is a commitment to review past incidents to derive lessons for improving future practices.
The use of less-lethal munitions in crowd control has come under renewed scrutiny following recent protests against federal immigration policies in Los Angeles. Instances of journalists and media personnel being injured by these munitions have escalated calls for restrictive use, culminating in a temporary restraining order prohibiting their use against journalists.
In a broader context, other protesters have also filed civil rights claims against city authorities following injuries incurred during demonstrations, reflecting ongoing community concerns regarding police actions. In California, individuals must first file a claim before proceeding with a civil rights lawsuit related to police misconduct.
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