Case Results

Our firm filed a companion case on behalf of three women who came forward alleging similar acts of sexual abuse by the same Deputy Sheriff guard that was involved in earlier litigation with the County of Los Angeles. Our litigation and advocacy were instrumental in getting the District Attorney to file criminal charges against the jail guard, which ultimately resulted in a prison sentence for the officer.

Settlement against County of Los Angeles in failure to protect claims stemming from jail conditions both at Los Angeles Juvenile Hall and Men’s Central Jail.

Federal civil rights lawsuit against San Bernardino County Department of Child and Family Services for failing to detect child abuse within one of its foster placements.

Our firm represented a young man who tragically died from a drug overdose while in the custody and care of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. Our federal civil rights lawsuit alleged numerous failures by the Sheriff’s Department to protect and treat the overdosing inmate.

Our firm represented numerous minors who were unlawfully pepper-sprayed by Probation staff while housed within Los Angeles Juvenile Hall. Our federal civil rights lawsuit alleged that after Probation staff unlawfully pepper-sprayed minors for the most minor and trivial of infractions, staff would then intentionally turn off the water to the cells preventing the minors from being able to decontaminate themselves and wash themselves of the OC spray.

Obtained judicial diversion for Black Lives Matter protestor charged with aggravated assault and battery. The case will be dismissed and sealed after a 12-month diversionary period.

Unlawful discharge of firearm charge – we intervened early on before the first court date and convinced DA not to file the case. No criminal charges were filed against the client.

Felony elder abuse charges were dismissed after the preliminary hearing. The client was facing an 18-year state prison sentence.

Murder charge dismissed in exchange for a plea to a 3-year deal on a lesser voluntary manslaughter charge. The client was looking at a life sentence.

Our client Brandon R. was charged with three counts of premeditated attempted murder. In addition, the District Attorney’s office had alleged numerous special gang and firearm enhancements. If convicted, Brandon was facing 35 years to life in prison.

At trial, the defense called fingerprint and DNA experts establishing the lack of physical evidence tying our client to the shootings. Defense experts were able to exclude Brandon as being the donor of DNA left on crucial items of evidence recovered from the scene; despite the State’s evidence being inconclusive on the issue. Defense also called an eyewitness identification expert discrediting the State’s contention that the ID of our client by eye-witnesses was reliable and credible.

After two days of deliberation, the jury returned not guilty verdicts on all charges. In addition to defense’s comprehensive case-in-chief, the jury credited Mr. Sterling’s cross-examination of the State’s gang expert and lead detective as the primary reason for disbelieving the State’s theory and motive behind the shootings.