I wanted to reach out with a major breaking update on the federal civil rights trial against the Los Angeles Police Department—and it’s a significant one.

On Thursday, April 16, a jury has just delivered a decisive $11.7 million verdict in favor of Isaac Castellanos, the 22-year-old college student who was permanently blinded in one eye during celebrations following the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2020 World Series win.

Led by attorney Pedram Esfandiary from civil rights firm Wisner Baum LLP, Castellanos prevailed on every single claim. With treble damages applied, the total judgment is expected to reach approximately $35 million—making this one of the most consequential rulings tied to police use of “less-lethal” force in recent years.

The case centered on allegations that LAPD officers fired kinetic impact projectiles into a peaceful crowd near Crypto.com Arena without warning. Castellanos, then a student at California State University Long Beach, was struck directly in the eye while attempting to leave the area—resulting in permanent vision loss and lasting trauma.

Attorney Pedram Esfandiary of Wisner Baum LLP is available for an exclusive interview, where he can discuss the details of this major verdict. 

• The key evidence and testimony that led the jury to rule in his favor on every claim 
• Why the jury determined the LAPD’s use of force was excessive in this case 
• How the lack of warning before firing projectiles influenced the verdict 
• The legal significance of winning under the Fourth Amendment and California’s Bane Act 
• How the $11.7 million award—tripled to ~$35 million—was determined and what it represents 

Please let me know if you would be interested, and I will coordinate with him right away. 

Thank you so much!