Civil Rights Attorneys

Excessive force or police brutality is a serious issue. While police do have a broad scope of power, this does not make them above the law. Even if an officer had good intentions, when their use of force was unnecessary, it is still considered excessive force.

Police officers are also not allowed to arrest someone without a warrant or a valid reason, commonly referred to as “probable cause”. In other words, the officer must have a good reason to believe that the individual committed a crime. Examples of civil rights violations in this area include planting false evidence or not following proper procedures to establish probable cause.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured due to police brutality and misconduct, or you have been falsely arrested or imprisoned by the police, you may be able to file a civil rights lawsuit against them. Please call us for a free consultation.

The police are not the only ones that sometimes abuse their power and in doing so violate another person’s civil rights. Prosecutors sometimes engage in this practice by initiating criminal proceedings against an individual, even though they know that there is not enough evidence to obtain a conviction. The state and federal governments have virtually limitless resources, and when they direct these resources to wrongly prosecute an individual, it can be very costly for the individual financially, even if they are ultimately acquitted of the charge against them.

In the worst cases, the end result of malicious prosecution is a wrongful conviction. When someone is wrongfully convicted of a crime, it can be a devastating event. A wrongful conviction can often mean heavy fines, extended jail time, and other long-term consequences.  In in the most extreme instances, some individuals have even had their lives taken from them through capital punishment after being wrongfully convicted.

Sexual harassment is far too common in the workplace. In the 21st century, it has no place in our day-to-day lives. About 40% of women are subjected to some type of sexual harassment in the workplace, and this can happen to men as well. Some common examples of sexual harassment include sexually suggestive gestures and communication, offensive jokes, inappropriate, rude, or offensive remarks, repeated unwanted requests, quid pro quos (e.g., career advancement in exchange for sexual favors), unwanted physical advances, and sexual assault.

If you have been the victim of any of these, you do not have to accept this as part of the “work environment”. You have the right to take a stand and take legal action against those who perpetrate (and those who help facilitate) these types of behaviors.

Various forms of discrimination are among the most common civil rights violations. Individuals are routinely discriminated against in the workplace because of their race, age, gender, disability, or another protected class. Discrimination also occurs frequently outside of the workplace in numerous settings; such as when someone is refused admission to a school, denied the right to rent or purchase a home, or denied access to various programs, benefits, services, and facilities based on a protected class. There is no place in our society for discrimination, and those who are victims of it deserve justice.