Overview
- The Los Angeles County jury found the city and Officer David Cuellar not liable after nearly three days of deliberations.
- Officer Houston Tipping suffered a spinal cord injury during a May 26, 2022 training exercise at the Elysian Park academy and died three days later, with the autopsy ruling the death accidental.
- The family alleged Tipping was intentionally attacked in retaliation for reporting a fellow officer over a woman’s sexual-assault claim and argued the training class tolerated rough tactics.
- City attorneys cited five officer witnesses who said Tipping lifted Cuellar and fell on his own head, and medical experts who attributed broken ribs and liver trauma to CPR; they also noted Tipping did not wear head protection.
- An internal LAPD review said the session met state standards and urged training reforms, while family lawyers accused the department of withholding key evidence, including a training baton.