A federal jury has granted $13.1 million to the parents of Jeffrey Alexander Monroy, making this the largest excessive force verdict ever entered against Riverside County. The verdict follows a five-year long legal battle stemming from the fatal shooting of Monroy, a 33-year old man who was experiencing a mental health crisis and was struck by bullets multiple times in the back despite his brother actively attempting to de-escalate the situation by pulling him 20 feet away from the confrontation.
The jury found that Riverside County Sheriff’s Corporal Ruben Perez used excessive force. It assigned 70% of the fault to the deputy, confirming that constitutional boundaries were crossed, and to Monroy’s civil rights being violated. The award included $4 million for loss of life, $100,000 for pre-death pain and suffering, and $9 million in wrongful death damages to Monroy’s parents, Longina Perez Monroy and David Monroy.
Representing the Monroy family was attorney Houman Sayaghi. Sayaghi has extensive experience managing personal injury lawsuits and has litigated in state and federal courts in California. He focuses on handling catastrophic injury, traumatic brain injury, and wrongful death cases, in addition to trucking accidents, premises liability, motorcycle crashes, and civil rights.
“If not for the negligence and outright violations of Mr. Monroy’s civil rights, he would still be alive today enjoying time with his family, but instead they are left to grieve for the rest of their lives,” stated plaintiff’s attorney Houman Sayaghi of West Coast Trial Lawyers.
With a track record of courtroom success, Sayaghi guided the case through nearly five years of complex litigation. In regard to the legal outcome, he reflected on the verdict and its significance.
“There is no excuse for shooting Mr. Monroy multiple times in the back when he was no threat at all to the deputy. Thankfully, the jury saw the truth and came to the right conclusion and held law enforcement accountable for its egregious actions.”Sayaghi noted.
The overall results show that the jury found the use of deadly force to be unjustified. This case sends a strong message that law enforcement agencies can and will be held responsible when excessive force strips families of their loved ones.
West Coast Trial Lawyers remains committed to protect victims of civil rights violations, giving a voice to families who have been affected by abuse of power, and pursuing justice with integrity and resolve.
Our personal injury attorneys are determined to hold powerful institutions accountable, and ensure that victims are heard in court. By standing up against wrongdoing, our team shows its commitment to justice and to helping people when they need it most.
