SACRAMENTO — A parent is suing the city of Bakersfield alleging assault and violation of civil rights in the treatment of his infant child.
Jesus Flores filed a complaint Oct. 16 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California against the city of Bakersfield, Joseph Galland and Does 1-10, alleging they breached their duties of good faith and fair dealing.
According to the complaint, on May 21, 2015, Flores suffered great mental and emotional distress, including grief, anxiety, humiliation, fright, worry, mortification, indignity, terror, ordeal, and other forms of emotional distress when he was incarcerated and separated from his infant son for two years. The suit says Flores was wrongfully accused and persecuted by the defendants for allegedly shaking his son and causing him harm.
The lawsuit states Flores was further harmed as his child is scheduled to be put up for adoption, despite his acquittal after serving two years behind bars.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants violated his rights to be free from detention and arrest without reasonable suspicion or probable cause, falsely labeled and defamed Flores as a child abuser, and deprived him of more than two years of his liberty.
Flores seeks trial by jury, general and compensatory damages, special, exemplary and punitive damages, costs of suit, attorney fees and all other just relief. He is represented by attorney Thomas C. Seabaugh of The Law Office of Thomas C. Seabaugh in Los Angeles.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California Case number 17-C-01393