THE ESTATE OF VALENTINA ORELLANA PERALTA BY AND THROUGH ITS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST, SOLEDAD PERALTA, ET AL. VS CITY OF LOS ANGELES, ET AL.

On July 14, 2022, The Estate of Valentina Orellana Peralta by and through its Successor-In-Interest, Soledad Peralta and Juan Pablo Orellana Larenas, (collectively, “Plaintiffs”), represented by Rahul Ravipudi, filed a personal injury lawsuit against City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Police Department, William Dorsey Jones Jr., Burlington Stores Inc. and Does 1 through 50, (collectively, “Defendants”), seeking damages for alleged damages suffered due to defendant’s negligent, reckless, willful, wanton, intentional, and grossly negligent acts. This case was filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court of California. 

The present action arises from the facts that on December 23, 2021, decedent Valentina Orellana Peralta was shot and killed by defendant William Dorsey Jones Jr. and/or Does 1 through 10, who were employed and working within the course and scope of their employment as officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, City of Los Angeles, and Does 11-25, inclusive, while she was shopping with her mother, plaintiff Soledad Peralta, at the Burlington store, located at 12121 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91606 (hereinafter "subject property"). 

In the complaint, the plaintiffs alleged, “Defendants William Dorsey Jones Jr., Does 1 through 10, while working as officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, and acting within the course and scope of their duties, intentionally and/or negligently, and without due care, shot Valentina Orellana Peralta. As a result, Plaintiff Valentina Orellana Peralta suffered serious injuries, and ultimately died. Said Defendants had no legal justification for this shooting, and said defendants' use of force against Valentina Orellana Peralta was negligent and an unreasonable use of force.”

The plaintiffs further alleged, “The manner in which the Los Angeles Police Department officers handled the situation by failing to ensure bystanders were not in danger and then negligently and recklessly opening fire in such a manner as to shoot Decedent Valentina Orellana Peralta, an innocent bystander, violated all of the policies and procedures of the Los Angeles Police Department and applicable use of force standards of care. These violations led directly to the tragic death of Valentina Orellana Peralta.”

Plaintiffs also alleged, “The City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Police Department negligently and poorly trained, hired, supervised and retained the officers that ultimately fired numerous rounds at or in the general vicinity of Daniel Elena Lopez which ended up killing Plaintiffs' decedent. Moreover, the Los Angeles Police Department supervisors were negligent in their control and direction of the tactics utilized by the officers at the scene. Additionally, the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Police Department, and all of their employees and sworn officers, were negligent in the hiring, training, selection, retention, and discipline of the officers involved in the shooting, as well as the employees who trained the involved officers throughout their careers, from the academy to the date in question.”

The plaintiffs listed three claims for relief, including allegations of causing wrongful death by negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

In the prayer for relief, the plaintiffs requested for an award seeking general and compensatory damages, exemplary and punitive damages, funeral and burial expenses, loss of household services and other special damages along with the costs of suit and prejudgment interest.

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