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Geragos Firm Negotiates Settlement of Civil Rights Suits
Los Angeles, CA - Shelley Kaufman, attorney for Geragos & Geragos announced this week that the firm had negotiated settlements on behalf of its clients in two separate civil rights actions brought against law enforcement agencies.
Homies Unidos, et. al. v. City of Los Angeles, et. al.:
Plaintiff Homies Unidos, a community based, non-profit organization dedicated to curbing youth and gang violence, maintained that its civil rights and those of its members were violated by officers of the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Rampart Division. The complaint alleged that the LAPD engaged in a systematic practice of harassing members of the organization, in violation of the plaintiffs’ first amendment right to association and fourth amendment protection from excessive force, false arrest and detention.
In the effort to foster greater understanding of the organization’s mission, the parties to the action agreed to begin a dialog between Homies Unidos and the Los Angeles Police Department. The initial meeting took place on June 22, 2004, with LAPD Captain Charlie Beck welcoming representatives of Homies Unidos to the Rampart Division station, where the parties discussed issues of mutual interest and concern.
“We are pleased that, in addition to brokering a settlement of this lawsuit, the Los Angeles Police Department and Homies Unidos have initiated a dialog which will hopefully address more far reaching concerns about curbing youth and gang violence,” stated attorney for Homies Unidos, Shelley Kaufman.
The six figure settlement was made on behalf of the organization as well as six of its members. Attorneys Michael Seplow of Schonbrun, Desimone, Seplow, Harris & Hoffman and Jorge Gonzales also represented plaintiffs in the action.
Orozco, et. al. v. United States of America, et. al.:
While plaintiffs, a middle-aged Hispanic couple, were sitting at their kitchen table, agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration and City of Bell Garden’s police, stormed plaintiffs home and detained the couple at gunpoint in the botched attempt to execute a search warrant intended for the house next door.
The Federal Court action was settled during mediation, and after defendant United States’ motion for summary judgment was denied.
“Our clients are pleased to put this matter behind them and look forward to resuming a normal life,” stated Geragos & Geragos attorney Vicken Papazian, who worked closely with Kaufman on the lawsuit.
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