LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Attorneys for the parents of 18-year-old Andrés Guardado, who was fatally shot multiple times by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Deputy Miguel Vega, have obtained an $8,000,000 settlement against the County of Los Angeles for the wrongful death of their son. The settlement was approved today by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Plaintiffs Elisa and Cristobal Guardado are represented in the matter by attorneys Adam Shea, Nicholas Yoka, Spencer Lucas, and Ryan Casey of Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi LLP.
"While the settlement reached with the County of Los Angeles brings closure to more than two years of the civil lawsuit, it does not bring with it peace to our family or justice for our son, Andrés," said Cristobal Guardado. "Peace and justice will only come when the current investigations are completed, and Deputy Miguel Vega is held criminally responsible for Andrés' death. We will forever be grateful to our attorneys, our community, and to all of those people who have raised their voices as advocates for justice for Andrés."
On June 18, 2020, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Deputy Miguel Vega and his partner Deputy Chris Hernandez pulled up to Andrés' place of employment in Gardena, California. For no justifiable or necessary reason, the deputies abruptly jumped out of their vehicle and aggressively approached Andrés with guns drawn as he was talking to two women near the front of the business complex. As Andrés walked away, the deputies chased him with their guns drawn, and then shot him in the back multiple times. Andrés never posed an immediate risk to the deputies, or any other person, and the deputies had no reason to believe Andrés was a threat to anyone.
"It is difficult to imagine anything worse than losing one's child, yet Elisa and Cristobal remain hopeful that Andrés' death will not have been in vain – that somehow through this tragedy, their loss can spark change in a department that is in such great need of change," said attorney Nicholas Yoka. "The civil justice system has done its part, now the family waits on the criminal justice system."
Officials with the FBI and the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office have not yet concluded their investigation and/or disclosed their findings as to whether Deputy Vega and/or Deputy Hernandez were within policy for their use of deadly force or if they will be disciplined and/or criminally charged for their actions.
Guardado v. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, et al
Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles – Central District
Case No. 20STCV33203
About Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi LLP
Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi LLP is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm representing plaintiffs in wrongful death, catastrophic injury, sexual abuse/assault, product liability, mass torts, and business litigation cases. With offices in California and Nevada, firm attorneys are repeatedly recognized for their excellence by other trial attorneys, legal organizations, and publications and have dedicated themselves to obtaining justice for clients who are often dealing with a life-altering injury, death of a family member, or other challenges caused by the wrongful act of another. With this mission at the heart of its work, the firm has a proven track record of obtaining significant, and often record-breaking verdicts and settlements for our clients. Learn more about our work and our attorneys at psbr.law
