Constitutional Law & Civil Rights
We have represented an array of public officials, agencies, and private parties ranging from President Obama to local public-interest groups, in high-impact matters involving and affecting constitutional and civil rights.
Presidential Eligibility
Strumwasser & Woocher was California State Counsel for Barack Obama’s 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns, representing the campaigns in litigation and working on voter protection matters. The firm has also successfully represented President Obama and Vice President Biden in litigation challenging the President’s citizenship and the Secretary of State’s certification of California’s electoral votes. (Keyes v. Bowen (2010) 189 Cal. App. 4th 647.)
Striking Down Discriminatory Insurance Legislation
On behalf of the California Insurance Commissioner, and in conjunction with several local and national civil rights and consumer rights organizations, Strumwasser & Woocher won a judgment declaring new state insurance legislation invalid and unconstitutional. The statutory amendments in question discriminated against previously uninsured drivers in direct violation of Proposition 103, a sweeping pro-consumer initiative regulating the insurance industry. (Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, et al. v. Garamendi, L.A. Sup. Ct., No. BS086235.)
HUD Redlining Study
Strumwasser & Woocher advised the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Civil Rights on enforcement of anti-redlining rules under the Fair Housing Act, and served as special counsel in hearings the Secretary conducted on possible rulemaking.
Weapon Searches in Schools
Strumwasser & Woocher successfully defended the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) at trial and on appeal against a damages claim filed by an untenured teacher whose contract was not renewed after she twice obstructed searches of her classroom pursuant to the district’s weapon search policy, which was crafted in consultation with the ACLU and law enforcement officials. (Motevalli v. Los Angeles Unified School District (2004) 122 Cal. App. 4th 97.)
Title VI Compliance
As counsel to LAUSD, Strumwasser & Woocher conducted a groundbreaking quantitative and legal study of the district’s bond financed school construction and modernization program to determine whether any practices in implementing the program had a disparate impact on minority students.
School Governance
Strumwasser & Woocher served as lead outside counsel to LAUSD in its challenge to the constitutionality of state legislation that would have removed the authority of the elected Board of Education and handed over control of a significant portion of the school district to a private entity headed by the Mayor of Los Angeles. (Mendoza v. State of California (2007) 149 Cal. App. 4th 1034.)
Native American Heritage
The firm successfully represented a group of Native Americans in litigation blocking the construction of a parking lot and strip‑mall on a sacred site located on a state‑college campus. (Native American Heritage Com. v. Board of Trustees (1996) 51 Cal. App. 4th 675.)
