Civil Rights Case Results

In the largest settlement ever against Wellpath, a national for-profit correctional care company, Haddad & Sherwin LLP won a $12.75 million settlement for Katherine Johnson, the sister of Randall Johnson who died in the Shasta County Jail in 2018.  Wellpath agreed to pay $11.1 million towards the settlement, only five days before trial against them

On February 4th, 2020, Shasta County Sheriff’s Sergeant Jose Gonzalez shot and killed Thomas Barbosa, a 41-year-old combat veteran with severe PTSD. Barbosa was experiencing hallucinations, which prompted his wife to dial 9-1-1 for emergency medical assistance. Due to Barbosa’s history with mental health problems, the Shasta County deputies had his wife leave the home

In a groundbreaking case against Stanislaus County and its private, for-profit jail medical provider, Haddad & Sherwin LLP obtained an $11.5 million settlement for a former inmate who walked into the jail able-bodied, and was carried out on a stretcher — paralyzed from the neck down. Our client, who wishes his name to remain private,

OAKLAND, CA (December 15, 2023) — Civil rights law firm Haddad & Sherwin LLP announced today that it has won an $11 million settlement for their client, the now seven-year-old son of Mario Gonzalez, against the City of Alameda and three police officers involved in Mario Gonzalez’s restraint-asphyxia death on April 19, 2021.  The involved

After over four years of litigation and finishing the first week of a 10 week trial, Alameda County and Corizon Health, Inc., a national for-profit jail health care corporation, have ended a wrongful death civil rights case by agreeing to pay $8.3 mi...

This local case involved Pittsburg police officers’ use of a carotid hold and choke hold, and other highly injurious force, on video, while Beto Martinez can be heard saying, “I can’t breathe!” much like the more publicized cases of George Floyd and Eric Garner. On the afternoon of July 26, 2016, City of Pittsburg, California,

Justice has prevailed in another case of an unjustified police shooting. Civil rights firm Haddad & Sherwin LLP have won a settlement of $7 million for their client, the mother of Daniel Shaham (31), against the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and then-Officer Paul Shadwell. This remains one of the largest settlements in CHP history and

Won a $6.7 million settlement for a mother who was catastrophically injured by Santa Clara police officers who barged into her home without a warrant to arrest her 15-year-old daughter. Officers ignored the Constitutional requirement that they have a...

For more than a decade, the Oakland Police Department had a practice, and eventually a written policy, allowing officers to strip search people right on the street in broad daylight. Haddad & Sherwin teamed up with John Burris to represent dozens of...

The City of Vallejo agreed to pay $5.7 million to avoid trial against the children and parents of Ronell Foster, who was shot and killed by Vallejo Officer Ryan McMahon in 2018.  Officer McMahon was stopping Ronell for a bicycle infraction, and says he only intended to give him a warning.  When Ronell rode away

Haddad & Sherwin LLP obtained an early $5.5 million settlement for a man who was severely beaten with metal batons by deputies. He was attempting to surrender after leading deputies on a 40-minute vehicle pursuit over the Bay Bridge in a suspected s...

In a still pending case, a California county and some of its medical providers have agreed to pay $5.1 million to the widow and son of a mentally ill man who died in jail while awaiting transfer to a state hospital.   The man who died had cared for his family while he was properly medicated

Three-year-old Kayleigh Slusher died from preventable child abuse and neglect at the hands of her mother and mother's boyfriend, who are serving life sentences for her murder. This lawsuit brought accountability, along with significant reforms, to t...

Haddad & Sherwin LLP this month reached a settlement in the police shooting case involving victim Kris Jackson. In June of 2015, Kris Jackson was shot to death by a South Lake Tahoe police officer as he was coming out the rear window of his motel room. Police officer Joshua Klinge shot Jackson, stating that

Obtained a $4.35 million settlement for a 9-year-old boy who suffered a massive heart attack as a result of medical malpractice. ...

Won a $3.5 million settlement for the widow and son of an undercover Oakland police officer mistakenly shot and killed by fellow officers, and also won an appeal in that case making it harder for defendants to escape responsibility for their civil ri...

Represented dozens of mostly African-American homeowners who were sickened by industrial pollution from a toxic waste site in their neighborhood.  This long-fought case was brought in the 1990's against a toxic waste processing company and it...

$2.6 million was paid to the family of 31-year-old Rogelio "Roger" Serrato Jr., who was killed when members of the Monterey County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team set fire to his Greenfield, California, home with a flash-bang stun grenade during their a...

Santa Cruz County and the City of Capitola paid $2.5 million to settle this case before trial where they caused a 15 year old boy, who they knew was experimenting with LSD, to be shot and killed.  This case was brought by Luke’s parents and sister (Haddad & Sherwin LLP represented Luke’s father, Ian Smith)

The Fresno Police Department paid $2.2 million to the parents of Jaime Reyes, Jr., who was shot in the back as he fled police. Police recovered an unloaded stolen gun, wrapped in a plastic bag in his pocket. In addition to compensation, the FPD agree...

$2.15 million wrongful death settlement for the death of Irma Dela Torre, who was shot in the back by Salinas police. From this settlement, $1.6 million went to Irma's 79-year-old mother in Mexico, represented by Haddad & Sherwin; her recent husband...

$2.1 million settlement was reached in 2010 for the four daugters of a man killed by store security guards after he had shoplifted a few dollars worth of merchandise. Security guards chased the man into the parking lot where they tackled him and pil...

The parents and young son of 32-year-old Sean Arlt brought this case seeking justice and reforms from the Santa Cruz Police Department that mismanaged his psychotic episode, unnecessarily shooting and taking the life of this gentle and beloved man. ...

Matthew Anderson, 28, was high functioning with proper care and medication. But when he was arrested for acting out due to his mental illness, the Siskiyou County Jail failed to provide him with the psychiatric care he needed and could not provide fo...

$1.5 Million recovery for the parents and baby daughter of a 20 year old man shot in the back by an Oakland police sergeant, with two previous shootings. Several witnesses saw the officer shoot the young man in the back when the man had nothing in h...

Richmond Police Officers were trained in how to detain a mentally ill person for a 72-hour psychiatric evaluation under W&I 5150. Officers learned proper communication and deescalation tactics to avoid the need for any force in such situations. Inste...

The Vacaville Police Department paid $1.3 million to avoid trial after their overly aggressive tactics escalated a situation with a mentally ill man. The police shot Kendall Walker, 24, when he exited his car with a hammer in his hand. Knowing that h...

21-year-old Shaymus Digiantomasso had been a jail detention officer with another county when he began having mental health issues. He was arrested for a minor crime and taken to the Kings County Jail, where despite clear warnings that he was unstabl...

Won a $1.2 million jury verdict on behalf of a mother whose schizophrenic son was shot 14 times and killed by police The jury found that the police created a dangerous situation by their inappropriate and overly aggressive tactics. The decedent, who ...

Won a $1.1 million verdict for a 62-year-old man who was attacked by a police canine while he was inside a fenced construction site at night with his 73-year-old friend, trying to rescue her cat. San Mateo County Sheriff's Deputy Chris Laughlin orde...

In 2010, Mario Lopez's mother called 911 when her son needed immediate care for his mental illness. Expecting an ambulance, a sheriff's deputy arrived, and rather than take Mario to the hospital as he told Mrs. Lopez he would, he arrested Mario. The ...

Negotiated a substantial settlement for the 81-year-old mother of a man, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and who ran from a plainclothes officer who shot him in the back. The officer was acquitted after being charged with 2nd degree mu...

Obtained a large wrongful death settlement for the family of a young man who was electrocuted by a dangerously low hanging power line....

Carl Edwards was on his own front porch, working on a fence, minding his own business, when Vallejo Police Officer Spencer Muniz-Bottomley attacked him.  Two other officers and a sergeant joined in, choking and beating Carl for several minutes.  Officers were looking for someone else who did not fit Carl’s description.  Still, the officers got

Negotiated a large settlement for a disabled man who was run over by a truck while crossing the street in his wheelchair...

Obtained substantial compensation for an African-American bricklayer who was severely beaten in a racist attack by sheriff's deputies. Related News

After six weeks of trial, our client won a verdict of $575,231 from a San Francisco jury for wrongful arrest, violation of civil rights, and intentional interference with his employment. Our client, Bret Cornell, was an off-duty rookie San Francisco ...

Obtained a large settlement for a prison administrative law judge (ALJ) who was wrongfully terminated because of his race and his refusal to adhere to an illegal quota to find at least 90 per cent of prisoners guilty of misconductRelat...

Won a $500,000 jury verdict, plus a finding for punitive damages, for an African-American high school teacher who was disciplined by his school district, because he spoke out for the rights and safety of gay and lesbian students and staff at San Lean...

The City of Santa Clara agreed to pay $499,000 to a federal law enforcement officer and his parents to end a civil rights lawsuit they brought after Santa Clara police officers illegally raided their home. The City also agreed to support our client,...

Won a large verdict with punitive damages for a woman who was assaulted and then falsely accused of a crime by a deputy sheriff. Related News

Successfully represented man severely injured when he was struck on the head with a blackjack by a deputy sheriff....

Negotiated at settlement two days before trial for a plumber whose arm was broken by an overly aggressive cop at a Raiders game. The plumber, a 49ers fan, was singled out and injured by the Oakland officer after a fight broke out between rival fans ...

The Chico Police Department agreed to pay $400,000 to a young man whose knee was dislocated by Chico officers after a college party. Officers falsely accused the young man - who was celebrating his 21st birthday - of being drunk, then tackled him wi...

Won a $360,000 settlement, paid in a trust fund to care for a 52-year-old mentally ill man, who was severely beaten by the San Jose Police, after being found wandering in the street at the airport. The victim suffered multiple fractures. There were...

Successfully represented a woman who was sexually harassed by her supervisor in a national hotel chain. ...

Used forensic crime scene evidence, in a case with no independent witnesses, to obtain a substantial settlement for the mother of an unarmed young, homeless man who was shot and killed by a police officer in an empty field.Related News...

Won a total judgment in excess of $340,000 after a jury verdict for twin sisters from Ghana, Africa, who were pulled over, held at gunpoint, and arrested by West Sacramento police after the driver failed to use a turn signal when changing lanes. At ...

Won a $290,000 settlement for a gentleman who was Tased and falsely arrested, then charged with resisting arrest, by Salinas SWAT police. The Plaintiff was an innocent bystander during a SWAT raid on a local business....

King City paid $290,000 to settle a civil rights lawsuit after it's police officer Tased a young man who posed no threat, then had him falsely charged with resisting arrest. After those charges were dismissed, Haddad & Sherwin filed civil rights cla...

In 2011, Haddad & Sherwin, John Burris, and Ben Nisenbaum did a trial for two men who were strip searched by Oakland Police Officers in broad daylight on Martin Luther King Blvd. After presenting multiple witnesses and cross-examining the officers, t...

63-year-old Walther Weiland, driving his Mini Cooper, unwittingly enraged an off-duty Concord Police Officer while driving in heavy traffic on Highway 24. Officer Kevin Mansourian plowed his Infinity into Weiland's car, driving him off the road, the...

$218,000 jury verdict for champion bodybuilder, 2006 "Mr. Universe", who was also a Type 1 Diabetic. Police severel beat him while he was suffering from insulin shock. The jury found officers failed to follow their training for handling people hav...

Alameda County sheriff's deputies were at a facility for the care of people with developmental disabilities and mental illness when those deputies intervened in a situation where trained staff were calming down a young woman in crises. The young woma...

The City of Livermore agreed to pay $150,000 to a young man who was slammed into a light pole by Officer Michael Busevac in 2013. Witnesses testified that the large officer swung the young man like a rag doll, smashing his body into a metal pole. W...

Vietnam vet, Bo Jackson, who "bleeds red, white, and blue," was severely injured by Livermore police officer Busevac. Bo had gone out on his apartment balcony with is registered gun at his side to check for intruders. The Livermore SWAT team came...

Obtained a $75,000 settlement for a 16 year old girl who was sexually harrassed by her manager at her first job. The manager was later fired. This confidential settlement was substantial for the facts of this case, and spared our client from having...

Haddad & Sherwin won a $50,000 verdict after a bench trial for a man who was Tased once by a national park ranger after he walked away from her while she was giving him a warning for having a small dog off-leash. The Court found that the National Pa...

Achieved a sweeping settlement protecting the free speech rights of public school teachers and requiring a local school district to provide comprehensive training to protect students and staff from discrimination based on sexual orientation and other...

Secured compensation for the son of an electrical lineman killed in a workplace accident, from settlement of a complex, multiple party, product liability case.  The lineman was working in an aerial lift to upgrade a utility pol...

Won a jury verdict on behalf of a highly qualified civil engineer who was repeatedly passed over for promotion simply because he had a slight Arabic accent....

Won substantial monetary settlements for numerous victims of the Oakland Police Department's use of "less lethal" munitions and intentional police motorcycle collisions against peace demonstrators and journalists at the Port of Oakland on April 7, ...

Obtained substantial settlements for several women who were harrassed and terminated from their jobs with a sheriff department because they did not support the Sheriff's reelection campaign...

Obtained a confidential settement against a farm supply company that allowed some employees to racially harass an African-American man. The extreme harassment in this case included mailing the plaintiff a noose. ...

Successfully represented homeless activists who were arrested and treated unusually harshly by police because of their exercise of free speech rights, winning compensation for the victims and substantial policy changes from the San Francisco Police D...

Achieved a sweeping overhaul of the Oakland Police Department's Crowd Control Policies with other counsel in cases stemming from the OPD's shooting of Anti-War demonstrators with "less lethal" munitions at the Port of Oakland on April 7, 2003.