Jurors Award $6 Million in Wrongful Death Suit
An Alhambra couple whose son died of a cerebral hemorrhage after spending almost two hours in the city jail has been awarded $6 million in their wrongful death suit against the Alhambra Police Department.
Jan and Janina Serwacki said their 17-year-old son, Alexander, suffered a seizure on a city street March 27, 1984. But officers suspected that the high school sophomore was under the influence of PCP and arrested him.
By the time he was taken to a hospital, he was in a coma. An autopsy found no evidence of drugs in his system, said the couple’s attorney, Bruce A. Broillet. A 12-woman jury deliberated one hour in Alhambra Superior Court on Thursday before finding the Police Department negligent.
More to Read
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
