Charles Parkin
Long Beach
City Attorney

On July 13, 2018, a Long Beach jury rejected a claim by two sisters claiming serious injuries following an automobile accident with a Long Beach Police Officer, responding to an emergency.

On August 7, 2015, sisters Karina & Aura Angeles were driving their Nissan Sentra, northbound on Paramount Blvd. At the same time, Long Beach Police Officer Bryant Yuriar was travelling eastbound on Artesia Blvd. responding to an assault with a deadly weapon call. Yuriar testified that, consistent with Long Beach Police Department policy, he had activated his red lights and sirens before entering the intersection at Artesia Blvd. and Paramount.

Both of the sisters testified that Officer Yuriar did not activate his lights and siren, and that he unlawfully ran the red light controlling traffic at the intersection. A witness supported the Angeles sisters’ version of the facts; another independent witness confirmed Officer Yuriar’s account of the event.

The sisters claimed to have suffered serious injuries and sued the City seeking damages, including damages for past and future pain and suffering. After only three hours of deliberations, however, the jury returned a verdict for Officer Yuriar and the City, and against the plaintiffs. As the prevailing party, the City of Long Beach may recover its costs of suit from the plaintiffs.

The case was handled by the Long Beach City Attorney’s Office and Theodore B. Zinger, Deputy City Attorney.