Attorney Profiles
BENJAMIN SCHONBRUN
D.O.B.: 11/26/52
EXPERIENCE:
Founding Partner: Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris & Hoffman LLP
EDUCATION:
Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, N.Y. B.A. 1975
Major: Political Science, Minor: Secondary Education
Tel Aviv University: Study Abroad 1973-1974
University of West Los Angeles School of Law, J.D. 1983
Second Year Class President
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE IN CALIFORNIA: 1985
California State Bar; U.S. District Court Central District of California; U.S. District Court, Northern District of California; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California; United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
NOTEWORTHY CASES:
Sanders vs. New York State Department of Correctional Services, County of Los Angeles et al., represented mentally disabled Los Angeles resident who was wrongfully imprisoned for over two years in New York State prison system. Case resulted in settlements of over $3.5 million against New York State and County of Los Angeles and published Ninth Circuit opinion. Story featured in Sunday New York Times magazine, August 8, 2000
Calonne vs. S.C.R.T.D., et al., represented family of passenger who was shot and killed by deranged woman passenger on a City bus. Case settled for over one million dollars.
Brown v. City of Hawthorne: litigated on behalf of the family of a young man who was shot and killed by the City of Hawthorne police department. $1,000,000 settlement.
Scott v. County of Los Angeles, represented Estate of Donald Scott in federal civil rights lawsuit against law enforcement officials from the County of Los Angeles and federal government which resulted in a $5 million settlement paid to the plaintiffs for death of Malibu rancher killed during police raid.
Garcia v. City of Los Angeles, we represented a Mexican immigrant, his sister and mother who visited the Griffith Observatory on a family outing and wound up being assaulted and battered in violation of their civil rights by Park Rangers. The case settled for $335,000 and a promise from the City of Los Angeles to upgrade their training for Park Rangers to comply with statewide practices for law enforcement.
Zammit vs. City of Los Angeles, represented family of motorcyclist killed in traffic accident due to a dangerous road condition. Case resulted in settlement of $450,000.00,
Slaughter v. Eastwood Owners Association, represented the mother of a college basketball player at Chaffey College who was shot and killed by the resident manager of his apartment complex, a former LAPD detective. $925,000.00 settlement.
Griffith v. Davis, represented the daughter of a man who was shot and killed by an IRS special agent. Resulted in the reported case of Griffith v. Davis, 161 F.R.D. 687 (1995) which held that plaintiffs could discover documents which pertained to the IRS investigation of the matter, including the statement of the IRS special agent. $650,000.00 settlement.
CURRENT NOTEWORTHY CASES:
Wadkins vs. Hanford Auto Sales, Ford Motor Company, et al., represent the heirs of six family members who were killed when their car veered off the road, struck a bridge and plunged into a cold water canal.
CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENTS:
Benjamin Schonbrun & Partners have represented numerous plaintiffs in sexual harassment, race discrimination, wrongful termination, pregnancy discrimination and disability discrimination which resulted in settlements in the hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars.
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V. JAMES DESIMONE
Known as "Jim" to his friends, family and colleagues. Jim graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1981 and earned his law degree from UCLA in 1985. From 1987 to 1990, he was a staff attorney at Westside Legal Services, in Santa Monica, California where he was the lead trial lawyer representing lower income families and individuals who could not afford a lawyer.
Jim was admitted to practice law in California in 1985 and has dedicated his law career to providing vigorous and ethical representation and making a difference for those whose civil and constitutional rights are violated by corporations or government entities.
Brief Overview of Experience
In 1990, he joined Ben Schonbrun to form Schonbrun & DeSimone. The firm represents plaintiffs in civil rights cases, with an emphasis on employment discrimination and harassment and constitutional rights violations, including government and police misconduct.
The firm quickly established a niche in representing plaintiffs in sexual harassment cases in the entertainment industry. Jim was lead counsel for the plaintiff in the precedent setting case of Mogilefsky v. Silver Pictures, 20 Cal App. 4th 409 (1993) which was the first published California decision to recognize that same sex harassment violated the California Fair Employment & Housing Act.
In 1999, the firm expanded to add Paul Hoffman, the former legal director of the ACLU and formed Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris & Hoffman LLP. The firm continues its emphasis on civil rights law.
In April of 2006, Jim authored an article in the Journal of Consumer Attorneys Associations for Southern California entitled "Discovery in Employment Civil Rights Cases: Finding Where the Bodies are Buried"
Jim has conducted legal seminars on Trial Tactics & Techniques, Discovery in Police Misconduct Cases, Nuts and Bolts of Settlement Agreements in Employment Law Cases, and Current Trends in California Employment Litigation. In 2003, Jim was the Keynote Speaker at Southwestern University School of Law's Public Interest Week. In 2007, Jim was one of the featured speakers at the Los Angeles County Bar's Seminar on Successful Trial Techniques in Employment Law Litigation. In 2007, Jim spoke at the California Employment Lawyers Association Annual Employment Law Conference on the topic of Winning Don't Come Easy, Tales from Trial Lawyers in the Trenches.
Memberships and Affiliations
- Member, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles www.caala.org
- Member, California Employment Lawyers Association www.celaweb.org
- Member, Habitat Partners Council, Habitat for Humanity www.habitat.org
- Sponsor, Venice Community Housing Corporation www.vchcorp.org
- Sponsor, Fostering Imagination www.fosteringimagination.com
- Sponsor, Step Up on Second www.stepuponsecond.org
Other Cases of Note
Marcos Valdes v. Liberman Broadcasting: Prevailed in a jury trial based on violations of California Labor Code. The Jury found that Liberman Broadcasting misrepresented the length of employment to Marcos Valdes, a well-known Spanish speaking talk show host, to induce him to move from Mexico to Los Angeles. The trial judge affirmed the $156,000 verdict.
Estate of William Wilson v. County of Los Angeles and City of Hawthorne: Obtained an $800,000 settlement on behalf of Carol Wilson whose husband died in Los Angeles County Jail based on the failure of the County and City of Hawthorne to provide adequate medical care. The case involved the violation of Mr. Wilson's civil rights which include the right, under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, to receive adequate medical care while in jail.
Baires et al. vs. FRS Associates: Obtained a $492,000.00 jury verdict on behalf of tenants on the basis of the violation of the warranty of habitability.
Brown v. City of Hawthorne: litigated on behalf of the family of a mentally ill man who was shot and killed by the City of Hawthorne police department. $1,000,000 recovery for the mother based on the wrongful death of her son.
Slaughter v. Eastwood Owners Association: represented the mother of a college basketball player at Chaffey College who was shot and killed by the resident manager of his apartment complex, a former LAPD detective. $925,000.00 recovery for the parents in the wrongful death action.
Griffith v. Davis: represented the daughter of a man who was shot and killed by an IRS special agent. Resulted in the reported case of Griffith v. Davis, 161 F.R.D. 687 (1995) which held that plaintiffs could discover documents which pertained to the IRS investigation of the matter, including the statement of the IRS special agent. $650,000.00 recovery on behalf of the minor child.
Hood v. City of Los Angeles: represented the family of a mentally ill man who was shot and killed by Los Angeles Police Department Officers after he brandished knives. $425,000.00 recovery for the mother and children of Mr. Hood.
Calonne vs. S.C.R.T.D., et al.: represented family of passenger who was shot and killed by deranged woman passenger on a City bus and recovered over $1,000,000.00 as compensation for the wrongful death.
Scott v. County of Los Angeles: represented Estate of Donald Scott in federal civil rights lawsuit against law enforcement officials from the County of Los Angeles and federal government which resulted in a $5,000,000.00 recovery the plaintiffs for death of Malibu rancher killed during police raid.
Jim has also represented numerous plaintiffs in employment discrimination cases which have resulted in confidential, six and seven figure settlements.
Other Attorney Bar Admissions
- Supreme Court of the State of California,
- U.S. District Court Central District of California;
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California;
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California;
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
When he is not advocating on behalf of his clients, Jim enjoys spending time with his wife, Pamela, and daughter, Sierra as well as playing basketball, reading, and listening to music.
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MICHAEL D. SEPLOW
BORN: 8/12/63 New York, NY
EDUCATION:
Duke University, AB (Magna Cum Laude) 1985
UCLA School of Law, JD 1990
ADMISSIONS:
California State Bar; U.S. District Court Central District of California; U.S. District Court, Northern District of California; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California; United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; Los Angeles County Bar Association
EXPERIENCE:
OTHER CASES OF NOTE:
1992-Present
Partner, Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris & Hoffman LLP, Venice, CA
1990-92
Associate, Blanc Williams Johnston & Kronstadt, Los Angeles, CA
Fall 1989
Judicial Extern, the Hon. Abner Mikva, United States Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit
CASE HIGHLIGHTS:
Scott v. County of Los Angeles, represented Estate of Donald Scott in federal civil rights lawsuit against law enforcement officials from the County of Los Angeles and federal government which resulted in a $5 million settlement paid to the plaintiffs for death of Malibu rancher killed during police raid.
Sanders vs. New York State Department of Correctional Services, County of Los Angeles et al., represented mentally disabled Los Angeles resident who was wrongfully imprisoned for over two years in New York State prison system. Case resulted in settlements of over $3.5 million against New York State and County of Los Angeles and published Ninth Circuit opinion.
Garcia v. City of Los Angeles, represented family who alleged civil rights were violated by Park Rangers Case resulted in settlement of $335,000 and pledge to improve training for Park Rangers to conform to statewide peace officer standards.
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WILMER J. HARRIS
Mr. Harris graduated from Stanford University in 1986 with an A.B. degree in Economics, with Distinction, and Honors in Humanities. Mr. Harris was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa in 1985.
Mr. Harris graduated from UCLA School of Law in 1990, earning Order of the Coif honors and American Jurisprudence Awards in Evidence, Moot Court and Remedies.
Mr. Harris worked as Law Clerk to the Honorable David W. Williams for one year after his law school graduation. He entered private practice thereafter, practicing business litigation for two years with the law firms Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hays & Handler and Blanc, Williams, Johnston & Kronstadt.
In January 1994, Mr. Harris joined the Law Offices of Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. His practice area changed dramatically as he began representing clients in civil rights cases. In August 1995, Mr. Harris joined the firm (named Schonbrun De Simone Seplow Harris& Hoffman in 1999) where he concentrates primarily on the representation of employees in disputes with employers.
In November 1999, Mr. Harris opened the Pasadena office of the firm where he remains the resident partner. In February 2003, Mr. Harris will be one of the speakers at the Los Angeles County Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Symposium, speaking on the issue of discrimination.
Since 1996, Mr. Harris has worked on cases that have resulted in approximately $13 million in total payment to his clients. Mr. Harris' practice covers the full spectrum of employment disputes as the following few examples of case recoveries illustrates:
Sex Harassment: |
$1,250,000 |
Racial Discrimination: |
$3,250,000 |
Disability Discrimination: |
$875,000 |
Age Discrimination: |
$235,000 |
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PAUL L. HOFFMAN
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
PRIVATE PRACTICE
March 1994 - Present
Schonbrun, De Simone, Seplow, Harris and Hoffman LLP
Venice, California
In November 1999 I became a partner in Schonbrun, De Simone, Seplow, Harris & Hoffman LLP. Prior to that, on March 1, 1994, I established my own law firm. On May 1, 1997, the firm became Bostwick & Hoffman, LLP. My practice has been in the areas of constitutional and civil rights litigation, including First Amendment, discrimination and privacy litigation, and general business litigation; including copyright and trademark litigation. I also specialize in civil and criminal appeals. In October 1998, I was named one of the 100 most influential attorneys in California by the Daily Journal and in February 1999 one of the top trial lawyers in Los Angeles County by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
September 1984 - February 1994
Legal Director, ACLU Foundation of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
I directed the legal program of the ACLU in Southern California which included the supervision of ten staff attorneys and more than 100 volunteer attorneys with a docket of approximately 150-200 pending cases in every area of civil liberties and civil rights practice. In addition, I litigated a full docket of civil liberties/civil rights cases myself. I specialized in cases involving First Amendment rights, police misconduct, privacy, AIDS discrimination, international human rights, criminal justice and the death penalty.
October 1976 - Present
Volunteer Attorney - ACLU Foundation of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
In the period from 1976 to 1984 I litigated more than 20 civil rights/civil liberties cases in the following areas: First Amendment rights, criminal law and procedure, rights of persons with disabilities, race and sex discrimination, voting rights, police misconduct, freedom of information and privacy. I was lead counsel in Coalition Against Police Abuse v. Board of Police Commissioners (the "police spying" cases) and in Wilkinson v. FBI (a challenge to the FBI's COINTELPRO operation against the National Committee To Abolish HUAC). In 1984, I received the Clarence Darrow Award for outstanding First Amendment advocacy for my work in the police spying cases. After leaving the ACLU in 1994, I was named "of Counsel" to the ACLU Foundation and a member of the ACLU Foundation Board. I continue to litigate ACLU cases.
PRIVATE LAW PRACTICE
August 1976 - August 1981
Associate Attorney (Litigation Department)
Loeb and Loeb, Los Angeles, California
I participated in the preparation and trial of matters in the following areas: securities regulation, bankruptcy, contracts, business torts, real estate, copyright, defamation and constitutional law. I also handled a number of appeals. I often had primary responsibility for the cases I handled and on several complex cases I supervised several other attorneys and numerous paralegals. I was also a member of several firm committees, including the recruitment committee.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE FULL-TIME:
August 1981 - July 1984
Associate Professor, Southwestern University School of Law
Los Angeles, California.
Courses: Criminal Law and Procedure, Federal Courts, Civil Rights Litigation Seminar, International Human Rights Law, Public International Law, Contracts. I was also the Co-Director (with Stanley Fleishman) of a clinical program on the rights of the disabled and elderly.
ADJUNCT TEACHING:
June 1980 - Present
Oxford University/George Washington School of Law
Stanford Law School
UCLA School of Law
USC Law School
Loyola Law School
Southwestern University School of Law
In all, I have taught more than 40 separate courses, including First Amendment, Civil Rights Litigation, Constitutional Law Seminars on Equality and Privacy, International Human Rights, International Criminal Justice, Police Abuse Litigation, Slander, Libel, and the First Amendment and AIDS and the Law.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:
BAR ASSOCIATION AND RELATED ACTIVITIES
- Member, California Academy of Appellate Lawyers (elected May 2000)
- Co-Chair, International Human Rights Committee, ABA Section on International Law and Practice (1999-2000)
- Member, Los Angeles Copyright Society (1997 - )
- Lawyer Representative, Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference (1989-1992)
- Member, Committee on Private Bar Involvement in Pro Bono Work, The State Bar of California (1988-1991)
- Program Coordinator, International Human Rights Committee, ABA Section on Individual Rights and Responsibilities (1984-1988)
- Committee on Human Rights, The State Bar of California (1983-1986)
- Executive Committee, Section on Individual Rights and Responsibilities, Los Angeles County Bar Association (1985-1987)
- Executive Committee, International Law Section, Los Angeles County Bar Association (1982-1986)
- Arbitrator (legal fee disputes), Los Angeles County Bar Association (1980-1983)
- Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association, Commercial Panel (1981-1985)
- Vice-Chair, Arbitration Committee, Los Angeles County Bar Association (1982-1983)
- Judge Pro Tem, Los Angeles Municipal Court (Small Claims) (1983-1984)
REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVITIES:
- Amnesty International: Since August 1999 I have been a member of AI's 9 member International Executive Committee which oversees AI's operations throughout the world.
- Amnesty International - USA: Chair of the Board (1997-99, 1988-89); Member, Executive Committee (1984-1989, 1992-94, 1997-99); Member of Board (1983-89, 1992-94, 1996-99); Chair, International Council Meeting (1991-97); Founder and National Coordinator, AIUSA Legal Support Network (1982-87); Chair of December 1998 International Summit of Human Rights Defenders (Paris, France). I have also undertaken several human rights missions, diplomatic missions (e.g. as a delegate to United Nations meetings) and trial observations for AI. I have served on numerous AIUSA committees and task forces and I have frequently represented AIUSA in the media.
- Human Rights Watch: Member of California Committee; Member of Advisory Committee to Asia Watch; Research mission to Ethiopia (1994)
- Article 19 (International Centre Against Censorship): Member of International Board (since 1999); Chair of 1995 International Conference on Freedom of Expression and National Security (Johannesburg, South Africa).
- International League for Human Rights: Member of Board
- Center For Human Rights and Constitutional Law: Member of Board
- International Human Rights Law Group: Member of Domestic Advisory Committee
EDUCATION:
LEGAL
New York University School of Law, J.D.,
June 1976
Honors/Activities:
Staff Member, Annual Survey of American Law (1974-1975)/p>
Research Associate, International Law Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (1975-1976)
Law Clerk, Manhattan Legal Services (N.Y.U. Public Interest Clinic) (1974-1975)
RFK Fellow, Office of Congressman Jonathan Bingham, Washington, D.C. (1974) (responsible for foreign policy related issues, issues relating to Watergate and tax reform)
GRADUATE
The London School of Economics and Political Science, M.Sc. (Econ.), June 1973
UNDERGRADUATE
The City College of the City University of New York, B.A., June 1972
Major: International Relations
Class Standing: Top 5%
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
Magna Cum Laude Regent's Scholarship
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
BOOKS
- Coliver, Hoffman, Fitzpatrick & Bowen, (Editors), "Security and Liberty: National Security, Freedom of Expression and Access to Information," (Martinus Nijhoff 1999) ("Secrecy and Liberty")
ARTICLES
- "International Human Rights Law and Police Reform," in Zero Tolerance: Quality of Life and the New Police Brutality in New York City (NYU Press 2001) Eds. A. McArdle and T. Erzen
- "Using Immigration Law to Protect Human Rights: A Legislative Proposal," 20 Mich. J. of Int'l L. 657 (1999)(with William Aceves)
- "Safeguarding Liberty: National Security, Freedom of Expression and Access to Information: United States of America," (with Kate Martin) in Secrecy and Liberty, supra.
- "The Gag Order in the O.J. Simpson Civil Action: Lessons to be Learned?," 17 Loyola Ent. L.J. 333 (1997)
- "The 'Blank Stare Phenomenon': Proving Customary International Law in U.S. Courts," 25 Ga. J. Int'l and Comp. Law 181 (1996)
- "Enforcing International Human Rights Law in the United States," in Human Rights: An Agenda for the Next Century, American Society of International Law (1994) (with Nadine Strossen)
- "Double Jeopardy Wars: The Case for a Civil Rights 'Exception,'" 41 UCLA L. Rev. 649 (1994)
- "The Feds, Lies and Videotape: The Need for an Effective Federal Role in Controlling Police Abuse in Urban America," 66 So. Cal. L. Rev. 1453 (1993)
- "The Elimination of Torture: International and Domestic Developments" 9 International Lawyer 1351 (Fall 1985) (with Linda Brackins)
- "Public Interest Lawyers: Three Success Stories," Los Angeles Lawyer (December 1984) (I was one of the subjects of the article)
- Book Review, Hannum, "Guide to International Human Rights Practice," and Meron, "Human Rights in International Law: Legal and Policy Issues," 18 International Lawyer 741 (Summer 1984)
- "The Police Spying Settlement: New Safeguards for Political Expression," Los Angeles Lawyer (May 1984) (with Robert Newman)
- "The Application of International Human Rights Law in State Courts: A View from California," 18 The International Lawyer 59 (Winter 1984) (Symposium)
- "Trade Union Rights Under Article 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights," 5 Comparative Labor Law 149 (1982)
- "Assignment to Trial Department; Motions; Procedure in Chambers," in California Civil Procedure During Trial (C.E.B. 1982) (with Dale L. Gronemeier)
- "Environmental Law/The Clean Air Act Amendments," 1974/75 Annual Survey of American Law 641
- "The Right of Self-Determination in Very Small Places," 8 N.Y.U. Journal of International Law and Politics 331 (1976) (with Professor Thomas M. Franck)
I have also written dozens of articles for various publications, including the newsletters and magazines of various organizations, on civil liberties, civil rights and international human rights issues. See, e.g., "The United Nations and the Death Penalty," in The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948-1988: Human Rights, The United Nations and Amnesty International, at 89-99 (Published by AIUSA in Fall 1988)(with Zazi Pope); "The Use of International Law in ACLU Cases" (paper presented at ACLU Biennial Conference, Madison, Wisconsin, June 1989, updated in 1991 for the ACLU Biennial Conference in Burlington, Vermont). Since 1991 I have been the National Coordinator of the ACLU International Human Rights Task Force and the Editor of the ACLU International Civil Liberties Report. I have also published numerous op-ed pieces on civil liberties and international human rights topics in the Los Angeles Times, the Daily News, the Los Angeles Daily Journal, Newsday and the Herald Examiner. I am also a frequent speaker on First Amendment, civil rights and international human rights issues at CLE programs, law schools, symposia, Bar Association meetings, and other public events. See, e.g., XII N.Y.L. Sch. J. Hum.Rts. 599 (1995)(re human rights trials in Ethiopia).
SELECTED CASES
I have used an asterisk to denote cases I argued or on which I was lead counsel. I was co-counsel in the other cases. I have also omitted most cases in which I was involved as amicus curiae. I have been involved in several hundred appeals in one capacity or another.
UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT
- Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472 (1995)(argued)*
(Prisoners Rights, Due Process) - United States v. Alvarez-Machain, 504 U.S. 655 (1992)(argued)*
(Extradition Treaty, International Law) - Reno v. Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee, 119 S.Ct. 136 (1999) (Immigrants Rights, Federal Jurisdiction)
- Reno v. Flores, 507 U.S. 292 (1993)(Immigrant Rights, Due Process)
- San Francisco Arts & Athletics, Inc. v. U.S. Olympic Committee, 483 U.S. 522 (1987)(First Amendment, Trademark)
- Board of Directors of Rotary Int'l v. Rotary Club of Duarte, 481 U.S. 537 (1987)(Sex Discrimination)
- Crawford v. Board of Education, 458 U.S. 527 (1982) (Desegregation)
CIRCUIT COURTS
- United States v Messer, 197 F. 3d. 330 (9th Cir 1999) (Speedy Trial Act, Conviction Overturned)
- Maktab Tarighe Oveyssi Shah Maghsoudi, Inc. v. Kianfar, 179 F.3d 1244 (9th Cir. 1999)* (First Amendment, Trademark)
- United States v. Phillips, 174 F.3d 1074 (9th Cir. 1999)* (Criminal Law)
- Martinez v. City of Los Angeles, 141 F.3d 1373 (9th Cir. 1998)* (Police Misconduct, International Human Rights)
- Alvarez-Machain v. United States, 107 F.3d 696 (9th Cir. 1997)* (Federal Tort Claims Act, Torture Victim Protection Act, Constitutional Law)
- Hilao v. Estate of Marcos, 103 F.3d 789 (9th Cir. 1996)* (International Human Rights)
- Abebe-Jira v. Negewo, 72 F.3d 844 (11th Cir. 1996)* (International Human Rights)
- Standing Committee v. Yagman, 55 F.3d 1430 (9th Cir. 1995) (First Amendment)(Amicus)
- Siderman v. Republic of Argentina, 965 F.2d 699 (9th Cir. 1992)(International Human Rights, Foreign Sovereign Immunity)
- American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee v. Thornburgh, 970 F.2d 501 (9th Cir. 1991)*(First Amendment, Immigrants Rights)
- United States v. Aguilar, 871 F.2d 1436 (9th Cir. 1989)(International Human Rights, Sanctuary Case)
- Chalk v. United States District Court, 840 F.2d 701 (9th Cir. 1988)*(AIDS Discrimination)
- Levine v. United States District Court, 775 F.2d 1054 (9th Cir. 1985)*(First Amendment, Gag Order)
- Martin v. International Olympic Committee, 740 F.2d 670 (9th Cir. 1984) (Sex Discrimination)
DISTRICT COURT CASES
- Doe v. Unocal, 963 F.Supp. 880 (C.D. Cal. 1997)* (International Human Rights)
- Johnson v. County of Los Angeles, 865 F. Supp. 1430 (C.D. Cal. 1994)* (First Amendment)
- Wilkinson v. United States, 774 F. Supp. 1360 (N.D. Ga 1991)* (Due Process)
- American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee v. Meese, 714 F. Supp 1060 (C.D. Cal. 1989)* (International Human Rights, First Amendment)
- Rogan v. City of Los Angeles, 668 F. Supp 1384 (C.D. Cal. 1987)* (Civil Rights, Due Process)
- Thomas v. Atascadero Unified School District, 662 F. Supp 376 (C.D. Cal. 1987)* (AIDS Discrimination)
- Wilkinson v. FBI, 633 F. Supp 336 (C.D. Cal. 1986)* (Freedom of Information Act)
- Handel v. Artukovic, 601 F. Supp 1421 (C.D. Cal. 1985)* (argued as amicus) (International Human Rights)
- Wilkinson v. FBI, 99 F.R.D. 148 (C.D. Cal. 1983)* (Civil Rights, Archival Privilege)
CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT
- People v. Mitcham, 1 Cal. 4th 1027 (1992)* (Death Penalty)
CALIFORNIA COURT OF APPEAL
- People v Brown, 100 Cal. Rptr 2d 211 (2000)*
- Del Rio v. Jetton, 55 Cal. App. 4th 30 (1997)* (SLAPP Suit Defense)
- City of Huntington Park v. Superior Court, 34 Cal. App. 4th 1293 (1995)*(Civil Rights, Police Misconduct)
- McCarthy v. Fletcher, 207 Cal. App. 3d 130 (1989)* (First Amendment)
- Ketchens v. Reiner, 194 Cal. App. 3d 470 (1987)* (First Amendment)
- Rubin v. City of Los Angeles, 190 Cal. App. 3d 560 (1987)* (First Amendment, State Secrets Privilege)
- Coalition Against Police Abuse v. Superior Court, 170 Cal. App. 3d 888 (1985)* (Civil Rights, First Amendment, Privacy)
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EDUCATION
University of California at San Diego (1996 - Magna Cum Laude); BA in Political Science.
ADMISSIONS
United States Supreme
Court Bar: admitted in 2004
California State Bar; U.S. District Court Central District of California,
Northern District of California, Southern District of California; United
States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
EXPERIENCE
1999 - Present: Partner at Schonbrun, DeSimone, Seplow, Harris & Hoffman LLP
1998 - 1999: Taught Civil Rights Law to freshman students at UCLA.
1998: Special Assistant to the Honorable Cruz Reynoso at the United States Commission on Civil Rights
AWARDS/DISTINCTIONS:
Selected by Superlawyers.com as a "Rising Star" amongst Southern California lawyers for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
PRACTICE AREAS:
Appellate Law
Civil Rights (including Police Misconduct Cases)
Constitutional Law
Complex Litigation (including Class Actions)
Labor and Employment Law
NOTABLE CASES:
Muehler/Brill v. Mena, 544 U.S. 93 (2004), (co-authored merits brief to the United States Supreme Court in this police misconduct case; authored successful merits brief after remand to the Ninth Circuit.
Macias v. County of Los Angeles, 144 Cal.App.4th 313 (2006) (briefed and argued this police misconduct case which was published by the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division 1 - see below for text of opinion).
Blankenhorn v. City of Orange, et al., 485 F.3d 463 (9th Cir. 2007) (briefed and argued this police misconduct case which was published by the Ninth Circuit - see below for text of opinion).
People v. Robert Blake (co-authored Petition for Bail to the California Supreme Court).
Dalkilic, Celik v. The Titan Corporation, SOS International, Inc., Case No. 05-CV 0916 JAH (AJB) (Day-to-day attorney on this extraordinary case involving two Turkish citizens hired by The Titan Corporation and its subcontractor SOS International to provide translation services to the United States Armed Forces during the Iraq War. Titan, without informing one of the Plaintiffs beforehand, required him to participate in the interrogation of Turkish special forces and civilians who were captured by the United States military in connection with a plot to assassinate the leading Kurdish political figure in Northern Iraq, the mayor of Kirkuk. As a result of Defendants' actions, Plaintiffs were branded as traitors and may never be able to return home to Turkey). Click for details.
Democratic National Convention Cases (successfully represented individual victims and organizations who were subjected to police brutality in connection with the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, California.
Cinquegrani, et al. v. Department of Motor Vehicles of the State of California, et al. (2006) 63 Cal.App.4th 741: wrote and argued appeal whereby the Court of Appeal, in a published decision, affirmed the trial court's grant of a preliminary injunction restraining the DMV from illegally suspending the driver's licenses of motorists convicted of boating under the influence.
PUBLISHED OPINIONS:
Macias v. County of Los Angeles
Cinquegrani, et al. v. Department of Motor Vehicles of the State of California
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Do Kim
EDUCATION
U.C.L.A. School of Law
J.D., concentrations in Public Interest Law and Policy & Critical Race Studies, 2002
Co-Editor-in-Chief, Asian Pacific American Law Journal
Nancy Mintie Public Interest Award
Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans
Harvard College
(B.A., joint concentration in Afro-American Studies & Sociology, 1993
Dean's List. Senior Thesis - Do The Right Thing: A Portrait of Black-Korean Conflict in Los Angeles
ADMISSIONS & BAR ASSOCIATIONS
California State Bar
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
American Bar Association
Korean American Bar Association
EXPERIENCE
Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris & Hoffman, LLP
Associate Attorney. Venice, California. 2004 - Present.
Law Offices of Michael F. Yamamoto
Associate Attorney. Los Angeles, California. 2004.
The Honorable Robert M. Takasugi
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
Judicial Law Clerk. Los Angeles, California. 2002 - 2004.
The Honorable Robert M. Takasugi
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
Judicial Extern. Los Angeles, California. 2001.
NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund
Law Clerk. Los Angeles, California. 2000.
Korean Youth & Community Center
Founder & Director, Korean American Youth Leadership Program, Gang Awareness
Project. Los Angeles, California. 1993 - 1999.
PRESENTATIONS
Co-Producer and Panelist, Black and Asian Unity: Erasing the Color Lines 92.3 The BEAT "Street Science" Radio Talk Show, Los Angeles, California, September 15, 1997.
Guest Speaker, Present and Future Leadership in Koreatown First Annual National Korean American Studies Conference, Los Angeles, California, April 25, 1997.
Guest Lecturer, The State of Race Relations Five Years After the Los Angeles Riots U.C.L.A. Asian American Studies Department, Los Angeles, California, April 22, 1997.
Guest Speaker, Exemplary Programs for Minority Youth Annie E. Casey Foundation's National Conference on Juvenile Detention, Baltimore, Maryland, December 13, 1996.
Guest Speaker, Asian Gang Violence California Wellness Academic Fellows Forum, U.C.L.A. Graduate School of Public Health, May 16, 1996.
Guest Speaker, Training a New Generation of Servant Leaders: Building Multi-Racial Coalitions Children's Defense Fund's Annual National Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina, February 8, 1996.
Guest Speaker, Black-Korean Tensions in Los Angeles U.S.C. 100 Black Men Association, Los Angeles, California, November 27, 1995.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
The K.W. Lee Center for Leadership Board President. September 2003 - Present.
Los Angeles Unified School District Instructor for Multicultural Specific Course Course Instructor. July 1999 - Present.
Korean American Democratic Committee President. January 1997 - April 1999.
City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department Regional Arts Council Member. September 1997 - September 1999.
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles Member. April 1995 - September 1999.
Coalition to Support the Korean American Museum Chairperson. June 1998 - August 1998.
National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse Consultant. February 1996 & May 1997.
Los Angeles Riot Emergency Fund Founder. May 1992 - July 1992.
Black-Korean Alliance Member. June 1991 - November 1992.
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ERWIN CHEMERINSKY
Dean and Distinguished Professor of Law, University of California, Irvine, School of Law. Prior to assuming this position in July 2008, was the Alston & Bird Professor of Law and Political Science, Duke University. Joined the Duke faculty in July 2004 after 21 years at the University of Southern California Law School, where he was the Sydney M. Irmas Professor of Public Interest Law, Legal Ethics, and Political Science. Before that he was a professor at DePaul College of Law from 1980-83. Practiced law as a trial attorney, United States Department of Justice, and at Dobrovir, Oakes & Gebhardt in Washington, D.C. Received a B.S. from Northwestern University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Author of six books and over 100 law review articles that have appeared in journals such as the Harvard Law Review, Michigan Law Review, University of Pennsylvania Law Review, Stanford Law Review and Yale Law Journal. Writes a regular column on the Supreme Court for California Lawyer, Los Angeles Daily Journal, and Trial Magazine, and is a frequent contributor to newspapers and other magazines. Regularly serves as a commentator on legal issues for national and local media.
In April 2005, was named by Legal Affairs as one of "the top 20 legal thinkers in America." Named by the Daily Journal in 2008 (and every year from 1998-2003) as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in California. In 2006, received the Duke University Scholar-Teacher of the Year Award. Has received many awards from educational, public interest, and civic organizations.
Frequently argues appellate cases, including in the United States Supreme Court and the United States Courts of Appeals. Testified many times before congressional and state legislative committees.
Elected by the voters in April 1997 to serve a two year term as a member of the Elected Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission. Served as Chair of the Commission which proposed a new Charter for the City which was adopted by the voters in June 1999. Also served as a member of the Governor's Task Force on Diversity in 1999-2000. In September 2000, released a report on the Los Angeles Police Department and the Rampart Scandal, which was prepared at the request of the Los Angeles Police Protective League. Served as Chair of the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Commission on City Contracting, which issued its report in February 2005.
 | Complete Resume in .pdf format [ 48K ] |
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GINA AMATO
EDUCATION
University of California, Berkeley
Boalt Hall School of Law, JD, May 2001
Goldman School of Public Policy, MP, May 2001
Awards:
Jurisprudence Award for Civil Trial Practice
Jamison Oral Advocacy Award
Francine Diaz Memorial Award
Activities:
La Raza La Students' Association
Coalition for Diversity
Diversity Council
Amnesty International Legal Support Network
Central American Refugee Clinic
International Human Rights Law Clinic
University of California, San Diego
Revelle College, BA, Psychology, June 1996
EXPERIENCE
Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris & Hoffman, LLP
Litigation Associate. Venice, CA. 7/07 - Present
University of California, Berkeley
Boalt Hall School of Law
Associate Director of Admissions. Berkeley, CA. 09/05 - 06/07
Collective Legal Services
Eviction Defense Center
Staff/Managing Attorney. Oakland, CA. 1/02 - 8/05
La Raza Centro Legal
Day Labor Program
Legal Extern. San Francisco, CA. 8/00 - 12/00
National Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights
Policy Intern. Oakland, CA. 1/00 - 5/00
International Human Rights Law Clinic
Legal Intern. Berkeley, CA. 5/99 - 12/99
East Bay Sanctuary
Refugee Rights Program
Legal Intern. Berkeley, CA. 9/97 - 5/99
ADMISSIONS & BAR ASSOCIATIONS
State Bar of California
Supreme Court of the State of California
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
East Bay Tenants? Bar Association
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REBECCA M. HAMBURG
Rebecca M. Hamburg concentrates her practice in employment discrimination, civil rights, and international human rights law. Prior to joining Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris & Hoffman LLP, she represented employees in discrimination class action lawsuits as part of the Employee Rights Group at Berger & Montague, P.C. in Philadelphia, PA, and practiced federal employment discrimination and civil rights law with the Washington, D.C. law firm of Gebhardt & Associates, LLP, representing federal employees before administrative agencies and in federal courts.
Ms. Hamburg currently is a member of the Executive Board of the National Employment Lawyers Association, which advances employee rights and serves lawyers who advocate for equality and justice in the American workplace. She also serves as the co chair of NELA's Developing and New Attorneys Committee (NELA DNA), a Committee which she co founded, as well as the Annual Convention Planning Committee, and is a member of NELA's Membership Committee (including the subcommittee on Law Student Outreach). Ms. Hamburg is also a member of the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA), a local affiliate of NELA, including CELA's Legislative Committee.
Ms. Hamburg was previously an Adjunct Professor in the George Washington University Law School's Scholarly Writing Program where she taught upper-division scholarly writing to law students. While in law school, Ms. Hamburg was the Executive Notes Editor for the AIPLA Quarterly Journal and an executive board member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Board. In addition, through the International Human Rights Clinic, she provided research and drafting assistance for Respondent's attorneys in the Supreme Court case, Sosa v. Alvarez Machain, 542 U.S. 692 (2004), regarding the Alien Tort Claims Act (28 U.S.C. § 1350), as well as foreign arrest powers of U.S. law enforcement officers in the companion case.
She received her B.A., cum laude, from the University of California, San Diego (Eleanor Roosevelt College) with high honors in her major, in 2001, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Subsequently, she earned her J.D. from The George Washington University Law School in 2004.
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- State of California (active)
- District of Columbia (active)
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (inactive)
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Other Noteworthy Cases
Effron v. AIG, No. BC198461, (Cal. Ct. App., Dec. 31, 2008): Represented ex-partner in wrongful termination suit against law firm and intentional interference with contractual relations against the insurance company he represented while employed by the law firm among other claims; successfully upheld denial of anti-SLAPP motion on appeal. The appellate decision affirmed that the claims arose from retaliation against the partner, not from his actions in representing his clients. Available at: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/nonpub/B198461.PDF For more discussion of the appeal, please read the National Law Journal article available here: http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202427224793.
Brady v. Livingood, Senate Sergeant At Arms, No. 06 5362 (D.C. Cir., Mar. 28, 2008): Represented African American U.S. Capitol Police officer against department alleging race discrimination and retaliation. This case reaffirms the principle that the McDonnell Douglas requirement of a prima facie case is "largely unnecessary sideshow". Available at: http://pacer.cadc.uscourts.gov/common/opinions/200803/06-5362-1108108.pdf
Mastro v. Potomac Elec. Power Co. (PEPCO), 447 F.3d 843 (D.C. Cir. 2006), rehearing en banc denied (Jul. 11, 2006); cert. denied sub nom Potomac Elec. Power Co. v. Mastro, 549 U.S. 1166 (2007): Represented former manager employed by PEPCO who was wrongfully terminated and suffered reverse race discrimination and retaliation. On appeal, the D.C. Circuit found sufficient evidence of pretext in that Pepco did not do a full investigation, nor did it take similar disciplinary steps against African American employees who were dishonest. The Court also suggests that efforts to remedy past discrimination can be evidence of current reverse discrimination. Available at: http://pacer.cadc.uscourts.gov/docs/common/opinions/200605/05-7044a.pdf.
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SAMI KHADDER
Mr. Khadder concentrates his practice in employment discrimination, civil rights, police misconduct, and whistleblower protection law. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Khadder was an associate at Ropers Majeski Kohn & Bentley in Downtown Los Angeles where he primarily practiced intellectual property and business defense. Seeking an opportunity to apply his education and experience to help individuals seek justice, Mr. Khadder gladly joined the firm in May of 2008.
Mr. Khadder graduated from the University of California at Davis in 2000 with degrees in Political Science and Philosophy, both with honors. While at U.C. Davis, Mr. Khadder was invited to and did join a pioneer honors program called the U.C. Davis Honors Challenge.
Mr. Khadder graduated from the George Washington University School of Law in Washington, D.C. While in law school, Mr. Khadder was a judicial intern for the Honorable Robert H. Hodges at the United States Court of Federal Claims.
Since joining the firm, Mr. Khadder second chaired a week-long unlawful termination and whistleblower protection trial that resulted in a complete victory for the firm's client and a judgement totaling over $400,000. Mr. Khadder looks forward to continue advocating for individuals who have been wronged and have had their civil rights violated.
Mr. Khadder is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Labor and Employment division, as well as the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA).
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Ms. Sampath concentrates her practice in employment and civil litigation. She has had extensive experience representing employees in employment discrimination cases on account of race, national origin, religion, gender, disability, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, whistle blower and wage and hour claims. Prior to joining the firm in November of 2008, Ms. Sampath was an associate at Donfeld, Kelley & Rollman in Los Angeles where she primarily handled wage and hour and employment law matters on behalf of employees. She has also worked in an Of Counsel and consulting capacity litigating employment and civil cases with law firms and nonprofit organizations in Southern and Northern California.
Ms. Sampath's legal career has been shaped by her deep-seated commitment to vindicating the legal rights of those who have been denied justice. Ms. Sampath graduated in 1996 from the University of California at Berkeley where she earned her B.A. in Rhetoric. In 2000, she received her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law (NUSL), an institution renown for its focus on training and fostering public interest lawyers.
While in law school, Ms. Sampath served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Thelton E. Henderson, Chief Judge Emeritus, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. She also clerked full-time at the Legal Aid Society - Employment Law Center and Public Advocates in San Francisco. Ms. Sampath was honored for her social justice advocacy by being selected as one of four graduating law students to receive NUSL's Denise Bennia-Carty Memorial Award.
Prior to practicing law, Ms. Sampath served as the Director of the Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC), a statewide membership organization in San Francisco of over 100 legal services programs in California. In this capacity, Ms. Sampath worked in close partnership with the State Bar of California, judicial officers, legal services executive directors and private attorneys throughout the state to improve the effective delivery of legal services in California and increase access to justice for low income litigants.
Ms. Sampath has served on the State Bar of California's Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services (2003-2005) and Pathways to Justice Planning Committee (2004 2005). She is a member of the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA) and currently serves on CELA's Diversity and Mentor Committees, she is also a member of the South Asian Bar Association of Southern California and the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Ms. Sampath is admitted to practice in both state and federal courts.
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