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L.A. paid nearly $480 million in LAPD-related legal cases since 2019
The city’s police-related legal costs climbed sharply in recent years, drawing new scrutiny as Los Angeles confronts tight budgets and pressure on basic services.
A Los Angeles Times analysis of City Attorney data identified nearly 2,000 LAPD-related payouts since January 2019, totaling almost $480 million. The cases included traffic collisions, police shootings, other use-of-force claims and disputes brought by department employees.
Total since 2019: Nearly $480 million
2024 peak: $178.6 million across more than 300 matters
First half of 2026: $20.3 million
Traffic and shooting cases drive major costs
The Times found that officer-involved traffic cases accounted for about $125 million of the total, while claims connected to police shootings accounted for $104.6 million. Annual LAPD-related lawsuit costs more than doubled between 2019 and 2025, though the total fell from the 2024 peak to just over $100 million in 2025.
City Controller Kenneth Mejia said the payouts compete with funding for services such as streetlights, sidewalks and animal shelters. His office is conducting an audit of the city’s risk-management practices. The City Attorney’s Office told the Times that it is working to reduce litigation costs but does not control the number, timing or alleged causes of claims filed against the city.
Sources: Los Angeles Times analysis → City Controller liability dashboard →