A jury on Wednesday found in favor of the defense in a lawsuit brought by the parents of a late Los Angeles police officer who alleged that he was intentionally killed by a colleague during a bicycle training exercise in 2022.
The plaintiffs are Shirley Huffman and Richard Tipping and the estate of their son, Houston Tipping. Officer David Cuellar is a co-defendant with the city. The Los Angeles Superior Court panel cleared both defendants after three days of deliberations.
Bradley C. Gage, Huffman’s attorney, said an appeal will be filed.
According to the suit, on May 26, 2022, Cuellar and Tipping were participating in a class as part of the LAPD’s Bicycle Patrol School at the Elysian Park Academy near Dodger Stadium. During a training scenario between the two officers, Tipping suffered a spinal cord injury and died three days later.
The suit contended that Cuellar intentionally injured Houston Tipping, an allegation the city denied.
The suit also alleged that Tipping had previously taken a report from a woman who claimed she was sexually assaulted and Tippings’ parents contend that Cuellar committed the crime and that he purposely injured Tipping in retaliation for undertaking an investigation.
The 32-year-old, Pasadena-born Tipping joined the LAPD in December 2017.
Defense attorneys also disputed the extent of the parents’ damages.