Court Denies Appeal of Brutality Ruling

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has denied an appeal by the city of Glendale, letting stand an earlier federal court verdict awarding a Canoga Park man $60,000 in a police brutality case.

The case involved Paul Valles, who brought action against the city, several police officers and jailers. Valles alleged that in November, 1986, Glendale police officers arrested him illegally, used excessive force and were indifferent to his medical needs in a one-night stay in jail.

During the trial in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, the officers contended that Valles had been drunk in a public place and resisted arrest. They tried to introduce as evidence Valles’ prior lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department and statements he made during a previous arrest as proof that he was biased against police in general.

The judge excluded this evidence, and the jury ruled in Valles’ favor. The decision, filed Tuesday, also awards the legal firm representing the plaintiff $71,000 in attorney fees, said Valles’ lawyer, Stephen Yagman.