Tort Law
Unusual LA Suit Seeks Damages From Jailed Gang Leaders
Posted Dec 9, 2008, 11:19 am CST
By Martha Neil
A first-of-its-kind lawsuit filed yesterday by the Los Angeles city attorney's office against nine imprisoned gang leaders seeks to gain possession of their assets and redistribute the money among other residents of the two crime-laden neighborhoods the defendants allegedly still control from their jail cells.
"The suit seeks compensation for all property damage, property devaluation, emotional distress, personal injury, medical expenses and time in which residents could not use public parks because of gang activity," reports the Los Angeles Times. Because of threats from gang members, residents are too intimidated to seek justice for themselves, the suit contends.
The defendants reportedly are believed to have assets that could be collected if the lawsuit is successful, including money the gangs allegedly are extorting from business owners in their neighborhoods and funds being held by relatives. Both criminal and noncriminal assets could be collected from the defendants if the city wins the suit, the newspaper article says.
The litigation is being pursued under a new state law that authorizes such suits. It was discussed in an earlier LA Times article.
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