The city of Los Angeles is seeking more than $270,000 in compensation after prevailing in a lawsuit brought by the parents of a late Los Angeles police officer who alleged he was intentionally killed by a colleague during a bicycle training exercise in 2022, but the plaintiffs’ are fighting back with new court papers in opposition.
The plaintiffs are Shirley Huffman and Richard Tipping and the estate of their son, Houston Tipping. Officer David Cuellar was a co-defendant with the city. In February, a Los Angeles Superior Court panel cleared both defendants after three days of deliberations. The City Attorney’s Office subsequently filed court papers seeking just under $273,000 to cover costs that they say include $91,000 in expert testimony fees, mediation costs, messenger and trial binder preparation charges and court-reporting expenses.
But in their court papers filed Friday, the plaintiffs’ attorneys contend that a substantial portion of the claimed costs are not recoverable under law, are inadequately supported or have “not been shown to have been reasonably necessary” to the litigation. In addition, many of the claimed expenses are backed up by only generalized invoice totals and descriptions not backed by proper evidence, according to the plaintiffs’ lawyers’ pleadings.
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. On April 20, Judge Stephen P. Pfahler, who has since retired, denied the plaintiffs’ motion for a new trial or judgment notwithstanding the verdict.
Bradley C. Gage, Huffman’s attorney, previously said the verdicts will be appealed.