Chapman Popik & White LLP

CPW attorneys have a strong and proven record in pursuing civil rights and public interest cases. We have tried many cases in state and federal courts involving constitutional violations and claims under statutes such as 42 U.S.C. section 1983, Title VII, and the Fair Employment and Housing Act. These cases have included claims of unreasonable force in fatal police shootings, gender discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment and retaliation, and illegal searches and seizures under the Fourth Amendment. We often team with public interest organizations such as the ACLU, the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, the Environmental Defense Fund, Citizens for a Better Environment, and the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, to pursue meritorious claims in matters of public importance.

We have represented public interest organizations sued for exercising their right to petition – both in the successful defense against such claims and in seeking affirmative claims for relief. CPW’s public interest work extends as well to the Immigration Courts, where its attorneys have an unbroken record of success in obtaining political asylum for refugees.

Represented a female FBI agent who sued her employer for unlawful gender discrimination, hostile work environment harassment, and retaliation.
Represented the surviving family victims of a fatal police shooting who challenged the police department’s policy on the use of deadly force.
Represented a group of African-American firefighters who alleged that they were not promoted to command positions because of race discrimination.
Represented teachers and high school students who claimed that the use of dogs to sniff backpacks for drugs was an unconstitutional search and seizure.
Defended Latino day laborers and a public interest organization in a SLAPP suit arising out of the failure of the laborers’ employer to pay promised wages.
Obtained political asylum for a Salvadoran death squad widow in deportation proceedings