On Aug. 1, 2011, plaintiff Leander Crutcher, 29, an inmate, was involved in an altercation in the quad area of the George F. Bailey Detention Facility in San Diego. During the two minute struggle, Crutcher was pepper sprayed and taken to the ground by San Diego County sheriff deputies. He was then taken to the medical ward, where he was treated for a nose fracture. Crutcher sued the county of San Diego; the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department; and county sheriff deputies Alex Bagarry, Jeffrey Garrett, Cedric Palencia, Nicolas Rojas and Jason Udan. Crutcher alleged that the defendants’ actions constituted assault and battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, in violation of his Eighth Amendment rights. The matter proceeded to a bench trial. Crutcher did not dispute the incident in the quad that resulted in the deputies spraying him with pepper spray and taking him down to the ground. However, he claimed that his nose was fractured on the way to the medical ward, when the deputies maliciously smashed his face into a wall. Defense counsel disputed how Crutcher allegedly fractured his nose. Counsel contended that Crutcher sustained the injury during the incident in the quad, in which he was acting out and had to be detained by multiple sheriff deputies. Defense counsel presented an enhanced video of Crutcher being taken to the medical ward and contended that it showed that Crutcher’s nose had already been fractured. Thus, counsel argued that Crutcher’s allegation of having his face smashed into a wall never happened., Crutcher claimed he sustained a fractured nose due to the deputies maliciously smashing his face into a wall. He also claimed he sustained an orbital injury, resulting in residual headaches. In addition, Crutcher claimed he suffered emotional distress as a result of the incident, and sought in excess of $150,000 in general damages. Defense counsel argued that Crutcher sustained no further other than his fractured nose, which was treated and covered by the county. Counsel also argued that Crutcher had no medical evidence to prove any further or damages.