A Woodland Hills man who terrorized street vendors with violence, racist language and an ax must pay two victims a total of more than $2.8 million.
On Wednesday, a jury found Daniel McGuire guilty of assault, infliction of emotional distress and committing acts of violence, including against vendors Jonathan Alvarez and Tomas Leocadio – both of whom relied on their fruit stands as their only source of income.
McGuire’s “reign of terror” took place between February and August 2022, attorney Christian Contreras wrote in court documents. During that period, McGuire repeatedly harassed vendors working at the intersection of Canoga Avenue and Dumetz Road in Woodland Hills, according to the complaint.
In March of that year, McGuire published and distributed a racist manifesto around the neighborhood, referring to fruit vendors as “sub-American illegal aliens,” “hardened criminals” and “cockroaches who must be ground into the dirt,” according to the complaint.
That same month, McGuire “terrorized” Leocadio with racist and vulgar language, prompting the vendor to remove his booth from the intersection, the complaint states.
That August, McGuire was caught on camera destroy Alvarez’s fruit stand with an axe.
In May 2022, local residents held a small demonstration in support of street vendors. Video captured from the event appeared to show McGuire yelling at protesters and spraying them with a garden hose.
In a statement to Fox 11 on Wednesday, the plaintiffs’ attorneys praised the jury’s decision for sending a message that LA will not tolerate hate and violence against street vendors.
“This is a landmark street vendor judgment that reflects communities’ support for street vendors and the rejection of racism, bigotry and hatred against street vendors,” the statement said.
The civil jury trial, which took place in Van Nuys Courthouse East, found McGuire guilty of assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence. He was also found in violation of the Ralph and Bane laws — two California civil rights laws that offer protections against hate, violence and intimidation.
Alvarez is entitled to about $1.57 million in damages and Leocadio about $1.27 million, the jury decided.