Hernandez v. Price et al

On September 25, 2018, Los Angeles Police Department officer John Price shot and killed Carlos Hernandez during a traffic stop. The officer claimed Hernandez reached for a weapon, but no firearm was found. Maria Hernandez, the deceased's mother, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Officer Price and the City of Los Angeles, alleging excessive force, wrongful death, and violation of Fourth Amendment rights. The case drew attention to body camera footage that contradicted the officer's initial report. The trial focused on whether the officer's actions were objectively reasonable and whether qualified immunity applied.

In 2020, a jury found Officer Price liable for excessive force and awarded $15 million in damages. The city later settled the case for $12 million and agreed to implement de-escalation training reforms.

Whether Officer Price used excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment, and whether he was entitled to qualified immunity. The credibility of the officer's account versus the video evidence was central.

The verdict intensified calls for ending qualified immunity and spurred local police reform measures, including stricter use-of-force policies and mandatory body-worn cameras. It became a rallying point for activists demanding accountability.