News Details

Governmental Entity Liability Team Secures Summary Judgment in Central District

February 3, 2025

Los Angeles Partner Kayleigh A. Andersen led the Governmental Entity Liability team to a decisive victory in the Central District of California. The Honorable Judge Hsu granted summary judgment with prejudice on all counts for four Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputies who were alleged to have violated the civil rights of a 911 caller. Partner John M. Hochhausler assisted the team by drafting the winning argument, while Partner Eugene Hanrahan deposed the plaintiff’s witnesses and prepared for trial.

The case arose out of a situation in which a caller phoned 911 to report a possible residential burglary in progress because he had heard a knocking at his bedroom window in the early morning. The caller was upset with the response time to his call, so he berated the 911 operators and stated that he was armed with a .45 caliber pistol and would shoot anyone who approached him. The caller also refused to describe himself to the 911 operators so that they could communicate the caller’s appearance to the responding deputies. When the deputies arrived at the caller’s residence, they briefly detained the caller while they questioned him and searched the area. The caller refused to answer the deputies’ questions, shouted epithets at them, and berated them. After clearing the scene and evaluating the caller’s mental health, the deputies released him.

The case had been through mediation with no resolution and was scheduled for trial in a month. The caller had sought general and special damages in excess of $632,185.95, punitive damages, costs of suit, and attorney’s fees in his complaint. Plaintiff’s counsel has not indicated whether there will be an appeal.

Kayleigh A. Andersen is a member of the Governmental Entity Liability team. She has years of experience representing governmental entities and members of law enforcement in both state and federal court. She has extensive experience dealing with high-profile cases, including allegations of wrongful death, excessive force, and other matters, on behalf of public entities and their employees.

John M. Hochhausler is the Los Angeles leader of the Insurance Coverage / Bad Faith team and a member of the Construction Law team. He represents a broad array of domestic and international insurers in insurance coverage and bad faith litigation. He also represents numerous owners, construction companies, and design professionals in construction claims litigation.

Eugene Hanrahan is a member of the Governmental Entity Liability team. His practice specializes in defending law enforcement agencies from civil rights lawsuits. Prior to joining Manning Kass, he was a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of California, before working as a Deputy District Attorney in Los Angeles County for 21 years. During this time, he successfully tried dozens of cases to verdict, including murder, domestic and sexual violence, and major fraud.