Jury Awards $2.2 Million to Protester Injured by Deputy’s Projectile in 2020 Demonstration
A Los Angeles County jury has awarded more than $2.2 million to filmmaker Cellin Gluck, who was struck in the face with a less-lethal projectile fired by a sheriff’s deputy during a 2020 protest against police brutality.
The verdict, delivered last week, held Los Angeles County liable for Gluck’s injuries. Jurors determined damages totaling $3.5 million for Gluck and $300,000 for his daughter, who suffered emotional distress after witnessing the incident. However, the court reduced the awards by 35 percent, citing shared fault by protesters. Gluck will receive approximately $2.27 million, and his daughter about $195,000.
County attorneys confirmed the reduction and stated that officials are considering an appeal. “The County is exploring all of its options in this case,” the statement read.
Gluck, a director known for films including Oba: The Last Samurai and Persona Non Grata, alleged in his lawsuit that he and his daughter experienced excessive force while attending a peaceful protest in May 2020 following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
According to the complaint, Gluck was returning to his car when he approached a protester who appeared injured. Moments later, Gluck himself was shot in the face while holding only a camera. Court documents state the projectile traveled into his nasal cavity, where it remained lodged for nearly a year before surgical removal. The injury caused permanent disfigurement, traumatic brain damage, and ongoing medical complications.
Attorney Carl Douglas, representing Gluck, said the ruling provided only partial relief. “He is a 67-year-old man whose doctors have said he will have to manage the consequences of his injury for the rest of his life,” Douglas said, noting that the award was about half of the initial demand.
Douglas also criticized law enforcement training protocols. He stated that officers are instructed not to aim above the shoulders unless confronted with a deadly threat. He added that the inability to identify the deputy responsible highlighted systemic accountability issues within the department.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded, emphasizing that its leadership has since changed. In a statement, the department said leaders are reviewing the events of 2020 to draw lessons for improving community service.
The use of less-lethal munitions in crowd control has faced repeated scrutiny in Los Angeles and nationwide. During the 2020 protests, journalists and demonstrators reported being struck, prompting a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order limiting police use of rubber bullets and similar projectiles against members of the press.
Other lawsuits have followed. In one case, a protester lost a finger after being hit by a less-lethal round during a demonstration linked to nationwide “No Kings” protests. California law requires that a claim be filed before a civil rights lawsuit can proceed against a city or county over alleged police misconduct.
The Gluck verdict adds to ongoing debate about law enforcement’s use of force during protests, reinforcing calls for stricter accountability measures and revised training practices.
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