Filed Date: Nov. 14, 2022
Case Ongoing
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This case challenged Los Angeles’s cash bail policy, which allowed the city and county of Los Angeles to demand cash bail from arrestees who had not yet been arraigned. On November 14, 2022, six arrestees who had been held in jail awaiting a judicial determination on the conditions of their release pending further judicial proceedings filed this lawsuit on behalf of themselves and those similarly situated, seeking a preliminary injunction. They filed in California state court under § 1983 and California state law, against the city and county of Los Angeles, the LASD, the Sheriff of Los Angeles County, the Chief of the LAPD, and the California Attorney General, alleging that the policy resulted in detention and punishment for pre-trial detainees simply because they could not pay bail. The case was assigned to Judge Lawrence Riff.
The plaintiffs amended this application twice, filing the operative version on April 24, 2023. On May 16, 2023, the court issued a preliminary injunction, finding that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits given recent bail reform precedent, and that it was in the public interest to issue a preliminary injunction. The court ordered that the injunction be effective as of May 24, 2023.
On April 5, 2023, the named plaintiff filed another lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against the city and county of Los Angeles, the LASD, the Sheriff of Los Angeles County, the Chief of the LAPD, and the California Attorney General under § 1983 and California state law. Represented by Public Justice, the plaintiff alleged that his car had been seized in violation of the community caretaking exception to the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition on warrantless seizures, and that this was part of a pattern engaged in by the defendants. He sought monetary damages and injunctive relief. The case was assigned to Judge Jesus G. Bernal.
On Sept. 8, 2023, following a settlement agreement, the plaintiff dismissed the causes of action against the City and Chief of the LAPD with prejudice.
Summary Authors
Ruby Napora (4/21/2025)
Bernal, Jesus Gilberto (California)
Bailey, Leslie Andrea (California)
Hardingham, Brian A. (California)
Moore, Charles B (California)
Dermer, Gabriel Seth (California)
State / Territory: California
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Nov. 14, 2022
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The plaintiffs are six of the many people who are lawfully arrested in Los Angeles County by police officials without a warrant and then held in jail for a period of time before a judge determines whether and under what conditions the arrestee may be released pending further judicial proceedings.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Unknown
Defendants
City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles), City
County of Los Angeles (Los Angeles), County
LASD (Los Angeles, Los Angeles), County
Sheriff of Los Angeles County (Los Angeles, Los Angeles), County
Chief of LAPD (Los Angeles, Los Angeles), City
California Attorney General, State
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Preliminary injunction / Temp. restraining order
Source of Relief:
Content of Injunction:
Issues
Policing: