Judge Rules Against Slain Toddler

August 5. 2009

Los Angeles City Atty Carmen Trutanich high-fives a deputy city attorney in his office" - L.A. Times

In what was an extraordinarily poor judicial ruling, Judge Rolf M. Treu, decreed a dubious decision against a slain 19-month-old toddler, Suzie Pena, in favor of the Los Angles Police Department, who killed the child, through criminal negligence in a shoot out.

Her father was drunk and high, whilst holding her hostage. The LAPD stormed the room and began firing at him, also killing the child. The toddler's mother, Lorena Lopez, argued they could have reasoned with him more, rather than shoot, which I agree with.

little Suzie Pena

If the father's bullet had killed the child, the liability on the Los Angeles Police Department would be significantly less. As it stands, a FBI/SWAT member's bullet killed the toddler, therefore they are culpable. They fired 160 shots at this drunken man and his toddler. Something terrible was bound to happen.

This case constitutes a clear incident of wrongful death. The most her father was guilty of is child endangerment and kidnapping. I struggle to comprehend how any judge could rule against an injured or deceased child and their family. It gives the appearance of outright corruption and lack of compassion.

Reason it away anyway you'd like, if you lost your child due to a gun fight from FBI/SWAT, where like in many car chases that endanger others, they could have relented for public safety, you would want the culprits brought to justice and be legally compelled to pay fines in court, as punishment for your loss. Some people only care when the tragedy befalls them.

Judge dismisses suit filed by mother of toddler killed by LAPD bullet [Updated]

11:08 AM | August 3, 2009 - In a victory for the Los Angeles Police Department, a judge this morning threw out a lawsuit filed against the city of Los Angeles by the mother of a 19-month-old toddler who was shot and killed by a bullet from SWAT officers during an attempted hostage rescue in 2005.

The case before L.A. Superior Court Judge Rolf M. Treu was set to go to the jury this week after SWAT officers and police experts completed their testimony.

But Treu this morning granted the city's motion to dismiss the case, saying a jury could only reach one conclusion: that the officers acted reasonably.

Attorneys for Lorena Lopez, mother of 1 1/2-year-old Suzie Pena, argued in the trial that officers should have retreated and negotiated further with Raul Pena, who was delirious on alcohol and cocaine and holding his daughter hostage in the office of his car dealership on July 10, 2005.

The city contended that officers attempted the rescue in the best tactical way possible, and that the baby's father was the only one to blame for her death because he repeatedly held her as a shield during the hours-long standoff...

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