Family Files $30 Million Lawsuit Against Los Angeles County and Sheriff’s Department After Fatal Police Shooting

A family has taken legal action against Los Angeles County and the Sheriff’s Department following the tragic death of a 27-year-old Black woman, Niani Finlayson, who was shot and killed by police. The family’s claim, filed last week, alleges wrongful death and civil rights violations and seeks a compensation of $30 million.

According to a report by People, the incident occurred on December 4 when Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a domestic disturbance at an apartment in Lancaster. Finlayson had called authorities because a man allegedly refused to leave the apartment, as stated by the police.

The sheriff’s department provided a statement regarding the incident, explaining that upon arrival, the responding deputies witnessed a domestic altercation between a male and a female. The statement further mentioned that the female, later identified as Finlayson, was armed with a large kitchen knife and had threatened to harm the male. Consequently, a deputy-involved shooting occurred when Finlayson approached the male with the knife.

The statement emphasized that only one deputy was involved in the shooting and a knife was recovered at the scene, confirming the presence of the weapon. Sadly, Finlayson was pronounced dead after being transported to a hospital.

Brad Gage, the family’s attorney, revealed details about the $30 million claim during a press conference held last week. Gage stated that Finlayson had been given a knife to protect herself from the man accused of attacking her.

The claim, obtained by People, further disclosed that the man had allegedly strangled Finlayson and harmed her nine-year-old daughter prior to her calling 911. Following the shooting, the man reportedly informed the deputies that there was no reason for them to shoot Finlayson. The claim adds that the deputies responded by physically assaulting the man. It emphasizes that while some may argue that the man deserved it, deputies are not authorized to unjustifiably kill women or engage in vigilante justice, as everyone should be subject to the law.

According to the claim, Finlayson was unarmed and sitting on the ground, posing no threat when the deputies opened fire through a glass door, shooting her in the back four times. It further states that Finlayson did not die immediately, as she cried out for help and expressed her pain. Tragically, her nine-year-old daughter witnessed the entire incident, including her mother’s suffering.

In response to the claim, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department released a statement, indicating that it had not yet officially received the claim. However, the department expressed its commitment to taking all deputy-involved shootings seriously. In the spirit of transparency, the department announced that the body-worn camera footage of the incident would be released earlier than required, within the following week. The statement also assured that a thorough review process, involving the Office of Inspector General, would be conducted to assess whether department policies and procedures were followed.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Justice System Integrity Division, will also undertake a legal analysis to determine if any criminal charges will be brought forth and whether the shooting was legally justified. The department emphasized its dedication to protecting diverse communities without bias or prejudice.

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