Q:

The families of the North Hollywood bank robbers sued the City of Los Angeles. Did they ever get paid by the City?

A.

This is a pretty crazy case. I remember posting a huge "shame on the families" post when the family of Emil Matasareanu sued the LAPD claiming that they let him bleed to death after he was shot when he tried to kill the responding officers.

This case is known as Matasareanu v. Gates, et al. It was tried in February and March, 2000 in United States District Court. The case revolved around the February, 1997 Bank of America Robbery in North Hollywood California where 17 police officers and citizens were shot and injured. Both of the career criminals engaged responding officers with automatic weapons while wearing body armor. Both bad guys died at the scene.

The attorney for Matasareanu's family agreed to dismiss the their suit with a waiver of malicious prosecution ending the case. The City of Los Angeles, however, paid $50,000 for attorney's fees for this ridiculous law suit.

No surprise being in Los Angeles, but there is a pending book and movie on this case.



Brad Parker