Victim of alleged anti-Semitic attack receives more than $800,000 from attackers

An Armenian-American photographer who was allegedly hit with a bottle and beaten by two attackers while speaking with a group of Jewish men outside a Beverly Grove restaurant in 2021 is entitled to more than $800,000 from each attacker in the part of a default judgment, a judge said. ruled Monday.

Photographer Mher Hagopian sued Samer Jaylusi and Xavier Pabon, alleging civil rights violations, assault, battery, conspiracy to commit assault, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Hagopian's attorneys previously filed court papers with Alhambra Superior Court Judge Ian C. Fusselman seeking $1 million in punitive damages and nearly $624,000 in compensatory damages each accused.

However, on Monday, the judge instead ordered each defendant to pay Hagopian $500,000 in punitive damages, an additional $300,000 for the plaintiff's emotional distress as well as $25,000 in civil penalties. The two men are jointly and severally liable to pay Hagopian $23,625 in damages.