Bank CEO Officially Sues LAPD Officers For Alleged Beating

A former Deutsche Bank executive officially filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles and two of its officers today, alleging federal civil rights violations-- including excessive force and false imprisonment--stemming from a late-night run-in with the lawmen last year that he says left him with severe injuries.

Brian C. Mulligan, 53, alleges that he was on foot and "minding his own business'' the night of May 15 after visiting an Eagle Rock medical marijuana dispensary when he was stopped by the officers, given a field sobriety test, handcuffed for no reason, taken to a Highland Park motel and beaten with a baton.

He is seeking at least $20 million in damages.

Calls for comment placed with the City Attorney's Office and a lawyer for the Los Angeles Police Protective League were not immediately returned.

According to the federal complaint, which names James Nichols and his partner, John Miller, along with LAPPL President Tyler Izen, Mulligan attempted to flee the motel but was brought down by the officers, who "attacked him."

The suit alleges that "Nichols hit Mulligan in the face with his baton, swinging it like a baseball bat, shattering Mulligan's nose and knocking Mulligan to the pavement. Nichols and Miller then beat Mulligan in the head. Mulligan, bleeding profusely and drifting in and out of consciousness, pleaded with them to stop."

Pictures of Mulligan's battered face are attached to the lawsuit. Mulligan also contends that he was defamed in a Police Protective League news release which falsely suggested he was a frequent user of "bath salts," a designer street drug linked to euphoria, paranoia and violent outbursts.

Mulligan has denied using the drug, however, he can be heard on an audio tape recorded two days before the incident admitting to Glendale Police Department officers that he was under the influence of bath salts.

The suit also alleges that the LAPD was aware of complaints against Nichols--who according to published reports is under investigation by the department for allegedly assaulting women over a period of five years--but allowed him to remain on the street.

The complaint alleges he's suspected of "using a similar modus operandi to the one he employed with Mulligan; transporting them (women) by threat and force to a private location; and ordering them to be compliant." Before joining Deutsche Bank, Mulligan held management jobs at Fox Television and Universal Pictures, according to his court papers.

LAPD officers have provided a different story. They said that they first encountered Mulligan while he was attempting to open the doors of moving vehicles near a fast food restaurant in Eagle Rock. Officers then helped Mulligan check into a motel room after administering a field sobriety test, which he passed, LAPD Lieutenant Andy Nieman told Patch.

Police later encountered Mulligan running through traffic and again trying to break into moving cars near the border of Eagle Rock and Highland Park. It was then that officers employed force to take him down, Lieutenant Andy Nieman said, because Mulligan had allegedly taken a defensive posture and was bearing his teeth and clenching his fingers like claws.

Mulligan had previously filed a $50 million abuse claim against the city of Los Angeles and the LAPD that was denied in September.

He was since sought representation from Century City Lawyer Louis "Skip" Miller.