On May 30, 2020, while peacefully protesting following the murder of George Floyd, Deon Jones was shot in the face with a rubber bullet by a Los Angeles Police Department officer. Mr. Jones, represented by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, sued the City of Los Angeles and the officer for violating his constitutional rights in what became the landmark case Deon Jones v. City of Los Angeles.
In March 2023, a federal jury in Los Angeles returned a unanimous verdict for Mr. Jones, finding that the officer violated Mr. Jones’ rights under the Fourth Amendment and awarding him $375,000 in damages, including punitive damages. The jury specifically found that the officer’s shooting was malicious, oppressive, or in reckless disregard of Mr. Jones’ rights. Following that historic civil rights trial victory, Gibson Dunn announced the settlement of the remainder of the case in July 2023 with Mr. Jones receiving $860,000, and the officer agreeing to forego any appeal of the jury’s verdict, ensuring the case will continue to stand as a national message of accountability for police misconduct.
Deon Jones said: “I am proud and relieved that this multi-year fight for justice has concluded in such a momentous, historic outcome. The jury verdict in this case affirmed my faith in humanity and what it means to stand in one’s truth and power – indeed, that’s how change is always made. And, during a time where we see our rights being stripped away, I am grateful that my efforts to challenge and transform the status quo have moved the needle in the right direction for all people around the country who exercise their rights to peacefully protest.”
Katherine Marquart, Pro Bono Chair of Gibson Dunn, said: “Gibson Dunn has been proud to stand with Mr. Jones every step of the way. We were privileged to celebrate Mr. Jones’ victory after trial, just as we are honored to stand with him in announcing this important settlement today. We look forward to continuing to work with Mr. Jones and other leaders in the perpetual struggle to improve our civic institutions and reaffirm our collective commitment to equal access to justice, civil rights, and equality under the law.”
About Deon Jones
Deon Jones is a multi-hyphenate and performance artist recognized as one of the most compelling voices of his generation. His journey from surviving police violence during the 2020 protests to co-creating a searing rendition of “Sunday Bloody Sunday” with Jon Batiste set the tone for a body of work defined by courage and unflinching artistic expression. In 2023, he made history by winning a landmark federal case against the LAPD for excessive force—a victory that resonated nationally as an affirmation of truth and resilience against systems designed to silence.
His performances have captivated audiences at the nation’s most prestigious cultural institutions—MASS MoCA, The New Museum, PACE Gallery, Frieze Art Fair, and Art Basel among them. Rolling Stone calls him “transformative”; The Boston Globe has praised his “clarifying power”; EBONY named him to its Power 100 list of the most influential Black Americans in the country. Most recently, he reached millions as a standout contestant on Season 26 of NBC’s The Voice. His artistic practice draws on house music and rave culture, reviving the tradition of collective gathering as a sacred space for art, music, and social discourse.
Beyond the stage, a Truman Scholar, Deon has spent his career at the intersection of philanthropy and civic transformation. He served as Chief of Staff at Tides, a major philanthropic foundation advancing social change, and has worked across the private and nonprofit sectors helping companies design authentic community investments aligned with genuine social impact.
Earlier, Deon was part of the team at OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network that launched Oprah’s first podcast, Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations, and her first mobile game, Bold Moves. He also collaborated with actor Jesse Williams on BLeBRiTY, which won two Webby Awards, and was a producer on the Emmy-nominated documentary, With Drawn Arms, co-directed by Glenn Kaino and Afshin Shahidi.
