HSRR filed a lawsuit on behalf of Lieutenant Jeff Bardzik of the Orange County Sheriff's Department alleging that Bardzik was retaliated against by former Sheriff Michael Carona for supporting Carona's opponent in the election for Orange County Sheriff. HSRR successfully opposed defendants' motion for summary judgment and on March 28, 2011, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a published decision finding that Carona is not entitled to qualified immunity for retaliating against Bardzik in his position in Court Operations. Bardzik's case against Carona and the County is expected to go to trial later this year. Read more.
Hadsell Stormer Richardson & Renick Joins Legal Defense Team of "The Irvine 11."
HSRR attorneys Dan Stormer and Reem Salahi have joined the legal defense team of the eleven University of California Irvine and Riverside students who were allegedly discriminatorily charged with two misdemeanor counts for peacefully protesting Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren. Despite being disciplined by their respective universities, the eleven students -- dubbed "The Irvine 11" -- now face criminal charges and possible sentenced incarceration. On the first date of arraignment, the legal defense team filed a motion to disqualify the Orange County District Attorney's office on the grounds of prosecutorial misconduct and discriminatory prosecution based on prejudicial statements made as well as evidence that the office illegally obtained the students' privileged communications. Read more. More coverage here, and here.
Hadsell Stormer Richardson & Renick Files Class Action Against FBI on Behalf of Southern California's Muslim Community
HSRR attorneys Dan Stormer, Josh Piovia-Scott and Reem Salahi, along with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and the Council on American Islamic Relations are co-counseling a class action lawsuit against the FBI alleging illegal and unconstitutional surveillance of the Muslim communities in Southern California. In a fourteen month operation, the FBI employed informant Craig Monteilh who was specifically tasked with targeting Muslims and mosques in the Southern California region. As a consequence of Monteilh's violent provocations, Muslim organizations in Orange County reported Monteilh to the FBI and received a temporary restraining order against Monteilh. The FBI subsequently revealed Monteilh's role in spying and reporting on the Muslim community, in direct contravention to the First Amendment. HSRR, ACLU-SC, and CAIR are now suing the FBI for injunctive relief. Read more.
