Partner Abimael “A.J.” Bastida is featured on Santa Clara Law’s news website for his historic win on behalf of Kyle Johnson against the City of San Jose. A Santa Clara University (SCU) alum, Bastida and his trial team secured a $1.3 million jury verdict for Johnson, who was shot with a rubber bullet by San Jose police while peacefully attending a George Floyd protest in 2020.
“This case was a true team effort,” said Bastida. “Without the countless hours put in by our attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants, we would not have been able to overcome the City’s multiple attempts to dismiss this case.”
Bastida notes the win for Johnson is the first successful case of its kind in San Jose, and legal experts believe it could serve as a key precedent in the future for similar lawsuits involving police use of force against protesters. He says: “Other cases involving protesters injured during the Floyd demonstrations have either settled or resulted in verdicts favoring the City. This ruling underscores that peaceful demonstrators have rights, and police officers must be held accountable when they use force unjustly.”
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