City is denied a new trial

GLENDALE — A U.S. District Court judge tentatively ruled Monday to deny the city of Glendale’s request for a new trial in the case of a Sunland man, who was awarded $1.31 million for being wrongly detained by city police on suspicion of murder.

If Christina Snyder, the federal judge in the case, makes the ruling final, the City Council would then decide whether to appeal the case or pay the settlement, said Ann Mauer, the city’s senior assistant city attorney.

“We are disappointed by it, but we weren’t surprised,” she said.

Most motions made after a jury trial ends are denied, Mauer said.

The city attorney’s office has 30 days to file an appeal if the council decides to do so, she said.

The council will likely review the final ruling and weigh their options during a closed-session meeting next week, Mayor Frank Quintero said.

He couldn’t say what the city’s next step would be in the case.

“I can’t make a judgment until I hear from our legal team,” Quintero said.

Edmond Ovasapyan, 28, sued the city in 2007, alleging civil rights violations and was awarded $1.31 million Feb. 26. A jury found two detectives owed $75,000 each in punitive damages, while the city was responsible for $1.16 million.

He and his attorneys successfully convinced a federal jury that Glendale police wrongfully arrested and detained him for two years on suspicion of the shooting death of 21-year-old Christopher Shahanzari.

Shahanzari was shot and killed Nov. 1, 2005, when he interrupted a robbery at his home on the 1300 block of Bruce Street. Shahanzari’s mother, who was home at the time, identified Ovasapyan as one of three suspects, and that led to his arrest the next day.

Police collected evidence that allegedly tied him to the crime and gave it to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office, which decided to prosecute Ovasapyan on murder charges.

He was held at the Glendale jail and was transferred to a county holding facility while he awaited a preliminary hearing, where a judge ordered him to answer to the charges.

But Glendale police detectives continued to investigate various leads and collected DNA evidence at the scene of the shooting that exonerated Ovasapyan, city officials said.

He remained jailed for eight months before being released.

Ovasapyan’s attorneys didn’t have to argue much in court Monday since the jury had already ruled in favor of him, his attorney, Shelley Kaufman said.

“It was clear that she thinks the conduct of these officers was not appropriate,” Kaufman said.

But while a jury ruled in favor of Ovasapyan, he is looking forward to an end to the case, she said.

Snyder also tentatively granted Ovasapyan’s request that the city pay $271,495 in attorney’s fees.

“It’s unfortunate that it’s the city of Glendale and its residents, and that it will be coming out of their taxes,” said Ovasapyan’s brother, Alfred Ovasapyan.

 VERONICA ROCHA covers public safety and the courts. She may be reached at (818) 637-3232 or by e-mail at veronica.rocha@latimes.com.