Settlement OKd for Kin of Slain Store Manager
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Los Angeles County officials Friday agreed to pay the lion’s share of a $130,000 settlement to the family of a jewelry store manager who was mistakenly shot and killed by a sheriff’s sharpshooter during a 13 1/2-hour hostage siege in Beverly Hills in 1986.
The County Claims Board approved the settlement of a lawsuit filed by the family of Hugh Skinner, manager of the Van Cleef & Arpels store who was mistaken for a gunman who earlier had killed two hostages during a botched robbery attempt at the Rodeo Drive store.
Skinner, 63, was slain as suspect Steven Livaditis attempted to escape from the store using three hostages as shields, according to a report by Assistant County Counsel S. Robert Ambrose. Livaditis, who pleaded guilty to the murder of Skinner and two other store employees, is on Death Row.
The payment was among $363,500 in settlements approved Friday involving seven lawsuits against the Sheriff’s Department.
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