Lawsuit alleges officers intentionally rammed teen’s motorbike, causing catastrophic injuries, then handcuffed him to his hospital bed
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (September 4, 2025) – Nationally renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump and attorney Lee A. Cirsch of The Lanier Law Firm will hold a press conference on Friday, September 5, 2025, in Los Angeles to announce a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department, the City of Los Angeles, and individual officers on behalf of 16-year-old minor K.W. and his mother.
According to the lawsuit, on February 22, 2025, K.W., a licensed pilot, advanced student, and active community volunteer, was riding his small Honda Grom motorbike for the first time in a group ride with friends when LAPD officers deliberately rammed his bike with their patrol vehicle. The lightweight Grom, with less than 10 horsepower and a top speed of about 55 mph, posed no danger to the public, and K.W. had no history of violence. Without any warning lights, sirens, or commands to pull over, officers allegedly struck his bike with their vehicle and opened a cruiser door into him, sending him crashing into a pole.
The impact caused catastrophic injuries: multiple fractures to his shoulder, leg, and jaw; life-threatening internal bleeding and organ damage; facial trauma; and permanent injuries requiring surgeries and a future knee replacement. Despite his critical condition, officers allegedly slammed K.W. to the ground, handcuffed him, did not deliver first aid, and chained him to his hospital bed while denying his mother access to him.
The complaint alleges excessive force, equal protection violations, assault, battery, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The attorneys and family will speak on the broader implications of this case, which reflects a long-standing pattern of excessive force and racial profiling by LAPD.
WHO:
Shalayla Thompson, mother of K.W.
Attorney Ben Crump
Attorney Lee A. Cirsch, The Lanier Law Firm
WHEN: Friday, September 5, 2025, at 4:15 pm PT
WHERE:
Los Angeles Federal Court House
350 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA
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MEDIA CONTACT:
[email protected]
ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW
Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit bencrump.com.
