| Several of the firm's attorneys have experience in defending cities, city officials, police departments, police chiefs and police officers in a variety of matters. The following is a summary of such experience. |
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JOHN D. BARNETT
Mr. Barnett has a "of counsel" relationship with the firm and works with the firm on a number of civil cases. Mr. Barnett has been involved in the defense of numerous police officers in both criminal and civil matters. In fact, Mr. Barnett has never lost a court case defending a police officer. The following is a listing of some of the police cases that Mr. Barnett has worked on as well as the results of same:
People v. Thomas Chandler: In this case two police officers were accused of excessive use of force against a prisoner. This case was dismissed during the jury trial.
People v. Beckert: In this case involving similar excessive force charges, Mr. Barnett obtained a not guilty verdict for the defendant/officer.
Mr. Barnett also represented Police Officer Douglas Iverson in both of his Superior Court cases involving a charge of murder in a highly publicized police shooting case. In both cases the trial resulted in hung juries. After the second trial, the court dismissed the case against Officer Iverson.
People v. Hamby: The officer was accused of 24 counts of sexual abuse of prisoners. Again, Mr. Barnett obtained a not guilty verdict for such officer.
Mr. Barnett represented Officer Allan Ice in a criminal action where he was accused of assault with a firearm while off duty. The first trial resulted in a hung jury. The second trial also resulted in a hung jury. After such verdict, the court dismissed the case against Officer Ice.
People v. Ballew: Mr. Barnett obtained a not guilty verdict for Officer Ballew who had been accused of kidnap and rape.
Mr. Barnett represented Officer Ted Briseno in the highly publicized State Court "Rodney King" case. Mr. Barnett obtained a not guilty verdict for Mr. Briseno.
Mr. Barnett represented Orange County Sheriff Officer Bill Griffin in the criminal case where he was accused of statutory rape of a police explorer. Again, Mr. Barnett obtained a not guilty verdict for Orange County Sheriff Officer Griffin.
People v. Erickson: Mr. Barnett represented Riverside Sheriff Officer Erickson in a criminal case where the deputy was accused of 30 counts of child molestation. Again, Mr. Barnett obtained a not guilty verdict for Riverside Sheriff Officer Erickson.
LAURIE SHERWOOD
Laurie Sherwood is a partner in the firm and has an extensive background and experience in handling public entity cases in the areas of police conduct litigation and excessive force cases; employment cases including wrongful termination, racial and sexual discrimination and harassment; and general public entity defense.
While at the firm, Ms. Sherwood has represented several public entities including the Cities of Berkeley, Richmond, Vallejo, Piedmont, Novato, and Hayward, as well as the San Francisco Housing Authority. At her previous firm in Southern California, Ms. Sherwood assisted in the representation of the Cities of Alhambra, Bell, Costa Mesa, Downey, El Segundo, Glendora, Hawthorne, and Santa Clarita.
SANDRA KENNEDY
Sandra Kennedy has worked with Mr. Barnett on a number of civil cases involving alleged excessive force. Specifically, in conjunction with the criminal case, the alleged victim of excessive force filed a civil action in the U.S. District Court for the Central District entitled Paul Henry Easley v. Chandler, which was resolved prior to trial. Ms. Kennedy also worked with Mr. Barnett on an employment related case representing the City of Orange and several individually named defendants. The complaint in this case alleged claims for sexual, age and religious discrimination, as well as alleged whistle blower claims. Again, this case was resolved prior to trial.
Ms. Kennedy has also had experience at previous firms representing the San Luis Obispo Sheriff's department and certain individually named officers in a sexual discrimination suit. Ms. Kennedy has also had experience representing other municipalities in various civil matters.
LISA KING ACKLEY
Lisa King Ackley has experience representing municipalities
and their police officers in a variety of cases including,
but not limited to, cases involving claims of excessive
force, unlawful search and seizure, false imprisonment
and false arrest, violation of the Unruh Civil Rights
Act and the Tom Bane Civil Rights Act, as well as dangerous
condition claims. In addition, Ms. Ackley has represented
a school district in cases involving claims of dangerous
condition of public property, personal injury, wrongful
death and violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act.
Ms. Ackley has obtained summary adjudications and summary judgments in both state and federal court cases for municipalities including the City of Santa Ana and the City of Costa Mesa, as well as assisted with trials in civil rights cases including Section 1983 claims. In addition, she assisted in obtaining a defense verdict in favor of the Capistrano Unified School District in the Lani matter, a highly publicized case alleging the wrongful death of a boy who was run over after exiting a school bus.
In addition to these attorneys there are several other attorneys including Mary Watson Fisher,
Ferdie Franklin, and Lisa Martin Rice who have experience in municipal and employment related matters. |
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