LA to Pay $11.8M to Man Blinded by Police Projectile

Jury awards compensation for incident during Dodgers celebration

Apr. 18, 2026 at 3:15am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered glass lens against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the aftermath of excessive force used by police against civilians during a public celebration.A shattered lens reflects the harsh reality of excessive force used against civilians during public celebrations.Los Angeles Today

A federal jury has ordered the city of Los Angeles to pay $11.8 million to a 27-year-old man who was blinded by a police projectile while celebrating the Dodgers' 2020 World Series victory. The incident occurred when the man was among the crowds gathered in the streets after the Dodgers' win.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing tensions between law enforcement and civilians during large public gatherings, as well as concerns over the use of crowd control tactics and less-lethal weapons by police. The substantial jury award reflects the severity of the injury and the city's liability.

The details

According to court documents, the 27-year-old man was struck in the eye by a police projectile while celebrating with other Dodgers fans in the streets of Los Angeles. The impact caused him to lose his eyesight, leading to the multimillion-dollar federal jury award against the city.

  • The incident occurred in 2020 during celebrations of the Dodgers' World Series victory.

The players

Los Angeles

The city of Los Angeles, which was ordered by a federal jury to pay $11.8 million in compensation.

27-year-old man

The individual who was blinded by a police projectile while celebrating the Dodgers' 2020 World Series win.

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The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges cities face in balancing public safety and the right to free expression during large celebrations, as well as the potential legal and financial consequences of the improper use of crowd control tactics by law enforcement.