Civil Rights & Public Interest
CPW attorneys try civil rights cases in state and federal courts involving individual rights and constitutional claims arising under statutes such as 42 U.S.C. section 1983, Title VII, and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act. These cases include claims of unreasonable force in fatal police shootings, gender discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment and retaliation, and illegal searches and seizures in violation of 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 Civil 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 successfully defending against such claims and in seeking affirmative claims for relief. CPW’s public interest work extends as well to the Immigration Courts, where our attorneys have an unbroken record of success in obtaining political asylum for refugees.
Representative Cases
- Anderson v. Reno, 190 F.3d 930 (9th Cir. 1999). Title VII. Gender discrimination/hostile work environment/retaliation. A female FBI agent sued the Justice Department in federal court. Settled after appeal.
- Bare v. Lake Shastina (Unpublished: Cal. Court of Appeal (Dist. 3) No. C051061). 42 USC §1983. First Amendment/Retaliation. A male town manager sued an unincorporated district in state court for post-employment harassment. Jury verdict.
- Broussard v. City of San Jose (N.D. Cal.). 42 USC §1983/FEHA. Employment discrimination (race). Four unpromoted black captains sued the City fire department in federal court. Jury verdict.
- LaPointe v. West Contra Costa County Sanitary District (N.D. Cal.) 42 USC §1983. First Amendment/Retaliation. A community activist sued a sanitary district in federal court alleging his rights were chilled by a SLAPP. Jury verdict.
- Lira v. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (N.D. California) 42 USC §1983. Fourteenth Amendment/Due Process. A low-security inmate sued his jailers in federal court over their allegedly unsupported determination he was an associate of a prison gang requiring "supermax" confinement. Trial pending.
- Ward v. City of San Jose, 737 F. Supp. 1502 and 867 F.2d 280. 42 USC §1983. Fourth Amendment/Excess Force. The family of a man fatally shot in his backyard by three officers en route to another location sued the city police department in federal court. Jury verdict.
ATTORNEYS
Bill Chapman
Merri A. Baldwin
John G. Heller
Raquel A. Lacayo-Valle
David Nied
Carol D. Quackenbos
Mark A. White
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