Daily Journal, Spectrum News 1 Interviews Matthew McNicholas on Challenges Facing LAPD
Daily Journal and Spectrum News 1 interviewed Partner Matthew McNicholas about the financial and operational challenges facing the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the increasing cost of liability claims against the City of Los Angeles. Both outlets emphasized the City’s significant budget issues, which are largely driven by rising legal costs. McNicholas noted that over the past year, he has settled more than $30 million in employment cases involving LAPD officers, highlighting the City’s poor risk management.
A large portion of the City’s budget is being consumed by legal settlements, with a significant portion linked to LAPD lawsuits alone. Incoming LAPD Chief Jim McDonald suggested enhanced officer training as a way to reduce future lawsuits and legal costs, advocating for partnerships with local universities to provide specialized training and prevent costly incidents.
“Right now, I have probably 85 cases pending up and down the state on behalf of police officers and firefighters in retaliation and discrimination cases. And I probably have 20 or 30 pending against LAPD and LAFD. And this has been the case for years,” McNicholas told the Daily Journal.
See the Spectrum 1 News interview here.
See the Daily Journal interview here (subscription required).
