Civil Litigation
Civil litigation is our bread and butter. From state and federal trial courts, to appeals, to arguing cases before the U.S. and California Supreme Courts, our attorneys combine experience, creativity, and strategic foresight to deliver results in complex, novel, and high-stakes litigation on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants.
Trial Court Proceedings
Our attorneys efficiently and effectively advocate for both plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal trial courts, raising procedural defenses, seeking or opposing injunctions and other preliminary relief, litigating the merits of the case, and recovering attorneys’ fees.
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We successfully defended the constitutional validity of rent control ballot measures in multiple cities across California.
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We secured a favorable settlement for a county in a challenge to its redistricting plan after formulating an effective discovery strategy that resulted in key witnesses for the opposing party making critical admissions.
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We obtained two published federal court decisions dismissing federal lawsuits by affiliates of an insurance company in conservation based on novel theories of abstention.
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We were awarded attorneys’ fees totaling over $4 million in representation of a consumer protection organization that had challenged the excessive rates charged by a homeowners insurance company – the largest fee orders ever awarded under the fee statute at issue.
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We successfully defended an enforcement order by the South Coast Air Quality Management District Hearing Board that shut down a meat-rendering company found to have repeatedly violated multiple air quality regulations and standards.
Appeals
Because appellate courts “make law,” winning on appeal is some of the most challenging and consequential work we do. Our attorneys help ensure that errors made by a trial court are preserved for review by an appellate court and are effectively framed for a successful appeal. We approach each case with a fresh perspective, a bird’s-eye view of the law, and a creative and strategic sense of how to present the issues for maximum success on appeal.
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We secured a complete reversal of a trial court ruling invalidating Measure J, an amendment to the Los Angeles County Charter passed by the voters in 2020 that requires significant investments to address the disproportionate impact of racial injustice, to reduce incarceration, and to promote restorative justice.
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We established ground-breaking appellate precedent broadly interpreting consumer-participation provisions of the Insurance Code, thus vindicating the rights of consumer advocates to participate in insurance rate proceedings.
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We obtained a sweeping Ninth Circuit published opinion preventing insurance companies from using federal lawsuits to interfere with a pending conservation of an insurance company on abstention grounds.
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We secured an extraordinary order from the California Supreme Court to grant the California Citizens Redistricting Commission additional time beyond the statutory deadlines to complete its map-drawing process following delays by the federal government in publishing the 2020 census data.
Amicus “Friend of the Court” Briefs
In particularly high-stakes cases, governmental entities, organizations, and individuals who are not parties in litigation can seek to bring their unique perspective and expertise to assist the court by filing amicus (“friend of the court”) briefs. Our attorneys are regularly asked to draft amicus letters in support of petitions for review and to submit amicus briefs on the merits before federal and state courts at all levels.
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We prepared an amicus brief in the California Supreme Court on behalf of former directors of the California Department of Finance opposing a sweeping anti-tax statewide ballot measure that the Court ultimately removed from the ballot.
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We filed an amicus brief in Sacramento County Superior Court on behalf of Common Cause that presented critical evidence of corruption scandals justifying a new pay-to-play law.
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We prepared an amicus brief on behalf of a Santa Monica residents group urging the California Court of Appeal to consider the importance of obtaining public input before adopting a new redistricting plan in Santa Monica.
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We submitted an amicus brief in the California Supreme Court on behalf of the American Medical Association (AMA) on the need to broadly construe the California Unfair Competition Law.
