Pro Bono

Served as counsel for defendants in an action brought by the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC’s October 2020 complaint sought a permanent injunction and other relief against defendants for providing inmate calling services. The inmate calling services industry is remarkably expensive and notoriously complex to navigate. Defendants were trying to make it cheaper for those trying to call their incarcerated loved ones, while the government was protecting the interests of the for-profit inmate calling industry, an unfortunate consequence of the mass incarceration era that succeeded Jim Crow. Through the firm’s efforts, the parties reached a settlement—involving no financial consideration—that was approved and entered by the Court in October 2021. As the Court noted, via the favorable settlement terms defendants neither admitted nor denied any of the complaint’s allegations.

Represented a plaintiff alleging assault and unlawful detention by the police. After being charged with resisting arrest and assault of a police officer, the plaintiff proceeded to trial and was acquitted on both counts. The plaintiff subsequently sued the police force for excessive force and unreasonable arrest, which resulted in the plaintiff’s job loss, liquidation of savings to post bail, and emotional trauma. Plaintiff sought punitive damages, a requirement that police officers always wear body cameras, and implicit bias training as part of the officers’ cultural sensitivity training. A favorable settlement was reached.

Negotiated a meaningful monetary settlement, reached at a settlement conference, in a wrongful termination matter against a large, multinational corporation. The plaintiff—an African American truck driver—alleged that the defendant company discriminated against the plaintiff due to his race and wrongfully terminated his employment. A confidential settlement was reached.

Represented a plaintiff who alleged employees at Salinas Valley State Prison were deliberately indifferent to his serious medical needs, in violation of the Eighth Amendment. A settlement was reached after extensive discovery and motion practice, an order on motion for summary judgment, four settlement conferences, and ultimately the parties’ mutual acceptance of a mediator’s proposal.

Represented plaintiff in a lawsuit asserting both federal and state causes of actions against federal and state defendants, seeking civil recovery for alleged violations of the plaintiff’s Constitutional rights by defendants. Plaintiff asserted, among other claims, violations of his Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures, and the use of excessive force. After summary judgment was briefed and argued, settlement was reached for significant monetary consideration and non-monetary consideration that would have been otherwise unavailable as relief if the firm had prevailed at trial.

Represented (scope limited to settlement conference involvement) a couple claiming a defendant bank wrongfully foreclosed on their property. Specifically, plaintiffs alleged that defendant, the legal property owner, failed to give them adequate opportunity to make up for missed payments. Plaintiffs also alleged defendant failed to give proper notice regarding its foreclosure and failed to properly communicate to plaintiffs regarding correcting their outstanding mortgage payments and entering into a loan modification. The suit alleged that defendant violated plaintiffs’ Constitutional due process rights (14th Amendment), among other violations. Plaintiffs sought a Court order quieting title, injunctive relief, monetary damages, and other relief.