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$740,000 in damages awarded after inmate beatings

Federal jury found dozens of Sheriff’s Department supervisors and deputies “engaged in malicious and sadistic conduct” against inmates at Men’s Central Jail in 2008

By Christina Villacorte
Los Angeles Daily News

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County taxpayers are on the hook for at least $740,000 in damages after a federal jury Thursday found dozens of Sheriff’s Department supervisors and deputies “engaged in malicious and sadistic conduct” against inmates at Men’s Central Jail in 2008.

During the five-week trial, jurors watched videos of deputies removing inmates from cells forcibly, resulting in skull fractures, broken limbs and other serious injuries.

They awarded five of those inmates a combined total of $740,000 in general damages. On Tuesday, they will decide punitive damages.

Full story: $740,000 in damages awarded after inmate beatings