City Attorney Targets Costs of LAPD-Involved Lawsuits

Responding to criticism of his office’s handling of lawsuits brought against the Los Angeles Police Department, City Atty. James K. Hahn on Thursday announced the formation of a team of lawyers and investigators to work toward reducing the multimillion-dollar costs of police cases.

Hahn also assigned a full-time legal advisor to Police Chief Bernard C. Parks. The advisor--a sort of in-house counsel who will work out of Parker Center police headquarters--was requested by the chief and has already begun sitting in on meetings of the LAPD command staff.

A police spokesman said the department welcomes the changes.

Calling it the “biggest shake-up” in his 13 years as city attorney, Hahn said the reorganization of his 333-member civil branch is designed to promote “risk management”--finding ways to prevent the kind of conduct that leads to lawsuits.

It also is intended to help Hahn, a possible mayoral candidate in 2001, deal with criticism that his office has seemed too eager to settle claims and lawsuits, which have cost the city more than $300 million over the last six years--$100 million of that involving police cases.

At the street level, police have thought that Hahn’s office has been settling cases in which internal LAPD investigators found no wrongdoing.

Such criticism would hurt Hahn in a mayoral election in which support by rank-and-file police and their union is important.

Hahn defended his office’s record at a City Hall East news conference, noting that payouts in police cases are down from $26.3 million in 1993-94 to $12 million last fiscal year.

The city paid $42.8 million in the last fiscal year to settle all kinds of cases--from traffic accidents involving city vehicles to employment discrimination lawsuits by city workers.

“But we need to do more,” including, he said, “dealing with problems early on so that they don’t result in litigation.”

In 1997, 829 claims and 163 lawsuits were filed against the Police Department.

San Fernando Valley Councilwoman Laura Chick, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, said that she was “absolutely pleased” by Hahn’s move, adding that it was exactly what she and others have sought.

“There are so many things this city needs that cost money,” she said, “and reducing those settlements can pay for those needed things.”

“It’s good to see that the city attorney is implementing what the mayor and the City Council approved last June,” said Deputy Mayor Noelia Rodriguez. Noting that Hahn last spring requested budget authority to create the new unit and promised that it would save $1 million or more a year, Rodriguez added: “We look forward to the taxpayers receiving the financial benefits that he has projected.”

Under the new arrangement, a Police Division has been established consisting of 29 attorneys headed by Senior Assistant City Atty. Cecil Marr, a former principal deputy county counsel who previously worked on employment matters involving the Sheriff’s Department. The unit will include 32 LAPD investigators.

Attorneys who previously split their time on every kind of liability case--from pothole cases to lawsuits alleging police brutality--will work exclusively on police cases.

Hahn also assigned Senior Assistant City Atty. Cheryl Ward to advise Parks on all matters but particularly employee relations, according to a police spokesman.

“No longer will the Police Department have to shop among lawyers to get an answer to a question,” Hahn said.

He said the restructuring will also create a new labor relations division.

He added that this will help deal with a sharp increase in lawsuits filed by city workers alleging workplace discrimination--from 10 in 1990-91 to 36 in 1997-98.

The city attorney said he also expects the reorganization to reduce the $3 million spent last year to hire outside counsel.

Hahn previously proposed creating a review panel consisting of top city officials to examine all legal settlements over $50,000 and giving his deputy city attorneys authority to settle minor property damage cases or other small claims under $20,000 on the spot.

“Unfortunately,” he said, “it didn’t generate enough enthusiasm to be part of the charter [reform] proposals.”

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L.A.’s Civil Liability Costs

Los Angeles City Atty. James K. Hahn on Thursday announced a reorganization of his 333-member civil branch--including the creation of a new police division and LAPD liaison unit--in an effort to reduce taxpayer costs for claims and lawsuits against the city in general and the Police Department in particular. The following figures are civil liability payouts by the city of Los Angeles for fiscal years 1992-99.

* Figures through Dec. 2, 1998

Note: Payouts include all amounts for damages, attorneys’ fees, interest, reimbursement of overpaid taxes and punitive damages awarded. In-house and outside attorney time and overhead costs are not included.

Source: Los Angeles city attorney’s office