Jul 03 2010
Patricia Ballaz Awarded $1.732 Million
A Los Angeles Superior Court jury, after one-day of deliberation, awarded Patricia “Patti” Ballaz $1.732 million in damages in her civil lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Police Department. A camerawoman for KTTV FOX 11 news, Ms. Ballaz was repeatedly battered by members of the LAPD while covering the May Day 2007 Immigration Rights Rally at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles, sustaining severe physical and emotional injuries.
The trial began on June 15, 2010 and jury deliberations began on July 1, 2010. The case was heard before the Hon. William F. Highberger. The Ballaz case, consolidated with other similar lawsuits, is known under the lead case name of Thomas Frederick Mecozzi vs. City of Los Angeles, and Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No. BC377597.
“This has been an extremely difficult and exhausting road to travel,” said Patricia Ballaz, “and I’m grateful to the jury for holding the Los Angeles Police Department accountable for its unwarranted attack upon my body and soul. I’d also like to express my sincere appreciation to the Los Angeles City officials and high-ranking members of the LAPD who did not sit idly by, but expressed their outrage at the wrongdoing that occurred at MacArthur Park. Their respect for the truth will always be meaningful to me.”
“May 1, 2007 is a day that I will never forget, it is a day that has changed my life forever,” continued Patricia Ballaz. “My genuine hope is that this trial and its verdict will serve as a strong reminder to the LAPD to think twice about using excessive force in any kind of situation. Our free speech and civil rights are precious and if we can’t rely on the police to protect them, who can we trust?”
“The jury found that the LAPD failed to adhere to its own rules on crowd control and in protecting the Constitutional rights of the news media covering the 2007 May Day rally in MacArthur Park,” stated Browne Greene, “including Patti Ballaz’ free speech rights. Patti’s victory today is bittersweet as she will bear the physical and emotional scars of that fateful day for the rest of her life. Our firm stands proud in helping Patti have her day in court.”
“We thank the jury for finding that the LAPD used unjustified, excessive force against our client, Patricia Ballaz,” stated Robert D. Jarchi, “while she worked for KTTV FOX television news as a camerawoman reporting on the May Day Immigration Rights Rally in 2007. Police misconduct against law-abiding citizens has no place in our society. We applaud Patti’s courage in asserting her Constitutional rights and standing up to the LAPD throughout this trial.”
Patricia Ballaz was wearing press credentials and was working as a camera operator for KTTV FOX 11 news alongside reporter and co-worker Christina Gonzalez, covering the May 1, 2007 Immigration Rights Rally in Los Angeles’ MacArthur Park. Without justification, baton-wielding LAPD officers at the event repeatedly struck Ms. Ballaz and pushed her to the ground. The police officers verbally threatened her at gunpoint because she was a member of the news media and because of her Hispanic/Mexican ancestry; the LAPD also shot weapons at or near her body. Ms. Ballaz sustained severe physical and emotional injuries, and she is unable to return to her job as a cameraperson.
