The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department has once again found itself in hot water.

Last week, a seven person jury found several LASD deputies liable for using excessive force. The case was filed in response to a 2008 incident that took place at the downtown Men's Central Jail.

At the time the incident took place, the accused are said to have called inmates out of their cells in order to have them searched for weapons and other contraband.  For unknown reasons, 21 detainees refused.

From there, the LASD deputies Tazed and beat them until they lost consciousness.   A total of nineteen men sustained injuries so severe they required hospitalizations.  Medical records reports show these inmates suffered injuries spanning from fractured legs to eye sockets.

The American Civil Liberties Union said that although they are pleased with the outcome of the case, they are still angered that several LASD video tapes of the incident were "lost" before the matter came to trial.

They feel the video evidence was indisputable and continue to express distaste that most of them went missing.  Several were still played for the jury, a representative said, and you could clearly hear the inmates screaming that they gave up.

The ACLU said there is not a single good reason that excessive force needed to be used.

The LASD, on the other hand, argued that these detainees were the worst of the worst and were ready to brawl. The jury didn't buy it.

Five plaintiffs have been awarded more than $700,000 in damages.  The punitive award will be decided later this week.   The inmates and their attorneys describe the decision as a major win.

A spokesperson for the LASD has reportedly said the trial is not over and that they will not comment until the matter comes to a close.  This decision comes just two weeks after Sheriff Lee Baca was found personally liable in another inmate abuse case.  He was awarded to pay $100,000 of his own money in damages.

The ACLU has said that these types of lawsuits have already cost the county more than $50 million.  Other investigations are still pending.