A family law judge who claimed he was roughed up and handcuffed by UCLA campus police after being stopped for a seat belt violation last November reached a roughly $500,000 legal settlement with the university, his attorney and the university announced today.
Under the settlement, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Cunningham III will receive $150,000, while the university will establish a $350,000 scholarship fund in his name to support undergraduate or law students. The “David S. Cunningham III Scholarship for Civil Rights” will be administered by the UCLA Black Alumni Association.
The settlement also calls for the university’s law school to hold a one- day Community Forum/Day of Dialogue on the issue of community/police relations. It also calls for continued training of UCLA police officers on diversity, bias and use of force, according to the parties.
The run-in between Cunningham and police occurred Nov. 23, 2013, when the judge was driving out of a parking structure after working out at a Westwood fitness center. Carl E. Douglas, Cunningham’s attorney, said the judge unhooked his seat belt briefly to get his wallet and pay the parking fee, but was stopped when he turned on to Gayley Avenue, while he was putting his seat belt back on.
Cunningham was handcuffed and placed into the back seat of the officers’ patrol car, causing him “serious injury and damages to his mind, body and reputation,” Douglas contended shortly after the confrontation.
University officials said at the time that Cunningham ignored officers’ orders to remain in his vehicle then refused to get back in the car, and “as a result, the driver was temporarily handcuffed.”
In a joint statement issued today, the University of California and Douglas said that both parties “have a mutual desire to use this as an opportunity to deepen understanding, raise the quality of police-community interactions and provide positive outcomes that enhance diversity and opportunity in our community.
“… Both parties are eager to use this as a teachable moment that provides greater insight into important issues, increased educational opportunities and improved relations between law enforcement and the public,” according to the statement. “This civic-minded agreement serves the best interest of the entire community and settles the matter to the mutual satisfaction of the parties.”
