LAPD Football Team Sued for Sexual Abuse During Hazing Ritual

A lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department was filed on October 16, 2023 by a former detective, who claims that he was sexually assaulted by members of the LAPD football team, the Centurions. According to the lawsuit, the incident occurred in 2009, when the officer was a new member on the team. After practice, he and other rookies were called into the locker room and subjected to a hazing ritual.

The plaintiff said that around 30 officers forced him and the other rookies to strip naked and show their genitals while insults were hurled at them. A teammate allegedly penetrated him anally with an object, which he believes to be a water or beer bottle. Furthermore, he was ordered by the team to climb into a trash bin filled with ice water while the officers shouted insults about his body.

At some point, he was pulled away by one of the cops, who told him, “You one of us now.” In the years he was with the LAPD, the detective did his best to suppress memories of the incident, as he feared retaliation if he filed a complaint. He told a couple of close friends about the assault, but kept the “guilt and shame and humiliation” mostly to himself for over a decade.

Unfortunately, hazing is one of the most dangerous forms of initiation by fraternities, sororities, sports teams, the military and various other organizations. These incidents are meant to humiliate and degrade new members of the organization and test their willingness to be in the group. It’s very common for the rituals to spin out of control and involve dangerous acts that injure or kill the people that are being hazed. Thankfully, this former detective survived the incident, but it’s clear that the sexual abuse he suffered will stay with him for the rest of his life.

Are you a current or former member of the LAPD, who was sexually assaulted by other cops in the department? Were you assaulted while being hazed by members of the LAPD football team and need to know about your rights and legal options? Contact the sexual abuse lawyers of Normandie and receive a free consultation from one of our attorneys.

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Sexual Abuse by the LAPD Football Team

Forcing someone to strip naked and penetrating them with an object are shocking allegations, but these incidents are not unique to the members of the Centurion. Sports teams often have initiation rituals for rookies, and some of these involve extremely degrading and harmful acts, like sexual assault. And it’s safe to assume that this detective and his fellow rookies were not the first group to be put through this horrifying ordeal.

The LA Centurions are a part of the police department’s athletic program. They had their first season in 1979 and play against other departments to raise money for various charities. While this is a noble cause, it doesn’t make up for the pain and suffering they cause for incoming members, who looked forward to being a part of the team.

Considering that the team has been around since the late 1970s, it’s likely that there is a long history of sexual assault during hazing rituals. These victims may still have a chance to sue the Los Angeles Police Department and receive justice for what they were forced to endure. In a later section, we will talk about the deadline to file an LAPD sexual abuse lawsuit under California law. For now, let’s take a look at the impact of sexual assault on the victim, and why legal action is necessary justified in these situations.

The Impact of Sexual Abuse on the Victim

It’s hard to imagine what life was like for this plaintiff, as he went to work every day with the people that physically and sexually assaulted him. Fear of retaliation, shame over what was done to him, guilt for staying silent – these are all emotions that he was clearly struggling with on a daily basis.

Yet, he was too scared to report these officers, which is understandable when you are accusing the police of criminal conduct. The victim’s lawyer has said that his client felt “like he was in a gang that he could not leave without putting himself in danger.”

If you were sexually abused by a member of law enforcement, this is a statement that will surely resonate with you. In addition, you can probably identify with the struggle to compartmentalize your feelings and pretend that everything is okay. But these emotions can’t stay hidden forever, and they usually manifest as mental health symptoms, like panic attacks, sleep disorders, severe anxiety, and depression.

The detective that is suing the LAPD is currently experiencing the effects of PTSD according to his attorney. It’s very possible that the victim will suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder for the rest of his life, which requires constant therapy, medications, and other medical services. This is why compensation is crucial to sexual assault victims, who are permanently changed by the emotional distress that comes from sexual violence.

We hope that this lawsuit will inspire you to take action if you were sexually abused by members of the LAPD or another California law enforcement agency. The LAPD sexual assault lawyers of Normandie are here to help, so please give us a call at your earliest convenience.

Can I Sue the LAPD for Sexual Abuse by their Employees?

Yes, you can sue the LAPD or any other police department for sexual abuse by their employees. In pretty much every case we’ve come across, it’s clear that the agency in charge knew about these incidents. At the very least, they had suspicions that some of their workers were abusive, and under the law, this is enough to warrant an investigation.

Failures to investigate claims or suspicions, retaliation against the victim, and not suspending or firing the assailant are examples of negligence by an employer. Thus, even if the LAPD was not directly responsible for the assault, they are guilty of failing to protect the victim or prevent such incidents in the first place. As we’ve mentioned before, it’s hard to believe that the department was unaware of these hazing rituals, considering that this recent lawsuit involves an incident from 2009. And the football team was formed several decades ago, so it’s likely that there are victims from 20, 30, or 40 years ago.

Suing the LAPD or any other county agency comes with numerous challenges that can overwhelm a victim and cause them to give up on the process altogether. Legal representation is essential for this reason, which is why we urge you to contact our office and seek guidance from one of our legal experts.

Statute of Limitations to File a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

Survivors of sexual abuse have 10 years to file a lawsuit if they were 18 years or older at the time of the incident. Or, if there were multiple incidents, you have 10 years from the date of the most recent incident to sue the responsible individual / entities.

Victims can also go by a standard known as the discovery rule. In the recent lawsuit against the LA Centurions, the incident occurred in 2009, so the statute of limitations is expired under the 10-year rule. However, California law provides sexual abuse victims 3 years to file a lawsuit from when they discover an injury associated with the assault.

According to the former LAPD detective’s attorney, his client is suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome, which is commonly associated with sexual abuse. It’s likely that he was recently diagnosed with the disorder, and in that case, he would have 3 years from the date of diagnosis to file a legal action against the LAPD.

This may come as a surprise to you if your right to a lawsuit had expired under the 10-year statute of limitations. To check your eligibility for a sexual abuse lawsuit, contact our office as soon as possible.

Average Case Value of a Sexual Assault Lawsuit

A sexual assault lawsuit is worth anywhere from $450,000 to $3,000,000 or more when the victim is an adult. This is based on numerous factors that have to do with the incident of assault (or multiple incidents) and the injuries that are sustained by the victim. For the most extreme injuries, like severe mental health issues and/or bodily harm, a sexual abuse lawsuit settlement against the LAPD can exceed $5,000,000.

Keep in mind that a lot of these cases are based on psychological damage, as many victims have minimal physical injuries. It can also take victims many years to come forward, and by that point, they may no longer have visible signs of being assaulted. However, it’s the emotional injuries from sexual abuse that play the biggest role in these settlements. Based on how the trauma of sexual assault has affected your life, a sexual abuse lawsuit may be worth several million dollars, especially if you are awarded punitive damages by a jury.

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How Long Do these Cases Take to Settle?

On average, it takes 1 to 3 years to settle a sexual abuse claim against the LAPD. Sexual assault lawsuits are complicated to begin with, but you have the added issue of suing a government entity. Lawsuits against the government have additional procedures – mainly, a claims process that you will need to go through before you can proceed with a lawsuit.

If you are able to settle your claim directly with the LAPD, it may take 6 to 12 months to receive compensation from the department. However, it’s a known fact that many of these cases progress to a lawsuit due to resistance by the department when it comes to a fair settlement offer. This is particularly true in sexual assault lawsuits, where compensation values often exceed $1,000,000.

Many people worry about the possibility of a trial once they enter the lawsuit stage. And yes, we will certainly prepare as if we are going to trial, though it’s unlikely that we will get to that point. As a general rule, government entities are not interested in a costly and high publicity trial for sexual assault by their employees. That’s why over 95% of these lawsuits are settled for an amount that both sides can agree on.

No matter where the legal process takes you, our lawyers are ready to fight for you and the compensation you deserve. Contact Normandie Law Firm and talk to a lawyer with experience in sexual assault cases against police departments and other law enforcement agencies.

Speak to a LAPD Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Attorney

Entities like the LAPD have immense power and authority over the public, as well as their own employees. That’s why many of them stay quiet and put up with abuse in the workplace, including sexual assault and sexual harassment.

The decision to take legal action against the Los Angeles Police Department is completely up to you, and we understand why a lawsuit isn’t right for everyone. At the same time, we know the physical and emotional toll that such incidents take on the victim. Suing the parties that are responsible for the abuse is one of the most powerful ways to resolve these issues and move on with the rest of your life.

For now, simply reach out to us and schedule a free consultation to learn about your rights and legal options. You can also contact us for a free second opinion if you have a lawsuit against the LAPD that you would like to discuss with another lawyer. We work on contingency, so there’s no cost to you whatsoever if you decide to hire us. Legal fees are included in your settlement check, so we make absolutely nothing unless we win your case. That’s our promise to you under the Zero Fee Guarantee, so there’s no risk to your finances regardless of what happens in your lawsuit.

Don’t hesitate to call and learn about the ways we can assist you. Our legal team looks forward to speaking with you and ensuring that justice is served if you are a victim of sexual assault by the Los Angeles Police Department.

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