Police Misconduct

A federal jury awarded Kyle Johnson $1,353,313 after finding San Jose Police Officer James Adgar used excessive force and retaliated against Johnson for exercising his First Amendment rights during George Floyd protests on May 30, 2020. The jury found Adgar violated Johnson's Fourth Amendment rights, committed battery, and acted negligently when he shot Johnson with a 40mm foam baton projectile near City Hall. The City of San Jose prevailed on all claims against it.

A high-impact civil rights lawsuit brought on behalf of an eleven-year-old student with disabilities concluded with a significant settlement after two years of litigation. The case alleged that the Moreno Valley Unified School District failed to provide required disability accommodations, triggering a crisis that led to law enforcement intervention and the physical restraint of the child by a school resource officer. Court filings claimed emotional trauma, educational regression, and violations of ADA Title II, Section 504, and the Fourth Amendment. The settlement resolved all claims and confirmed over $5.3 million in attorneys’ fees and costs, alongside policy reforms addressing how schools and law enforcement handle students with disabilities.

Juan Zamora and Geraldine Zamora sued the County of Los Angeles and Deputy Ramirez over an incident involving the Deputy's alleged excessive force. The complaint included serious claims like battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violation of the Tom Bane Civil Rights Act. The County rejected all claims, asserting the Deputy acted reasonably and was protected by immunity. After unsuccessful mediation attempts, the parties avoided a jury trial by reaching an unconditional settlement on March 15, 2024. The County finalized the legal action for $190,000.