|
Every person has certain civil rights stating how he or she may
and may not be treated at the hands of government officials. When
a police officer uses excessive force, or a county official removes
a child from its parents without proper authorization, then such
actions may be a violation of civil rights.
At the Northern California Law Offices of Johnson & Johnson,
we investigate claims of civil rights violations at the hands of
government employees. And whenever the circumstances show a violation
of government authority and consequent physical harm or violation
of a person's Constitutional or parental rights, we are tireless
advocates on behalf of our clients. If you believe you or a family
member has suffered a civil rights violation, we encourage you
to contact our office for a free initial consultation.
The Law Offices of Johnson & Johnson practices primarily in
the areas of criminal justice and juvenile law. Since 1993, our
attorneys have defended clients accused of criminal acts, represented
children accused of delinquency and represented
parents accused by Child Protective Services of abuse and neglect. In our years
of advocacy, we have gained in-depth knowledge of the way these
government systems are supposed to operate — and we have
seen the sad consequences of police or CPS/CFS misconduct.
Our work on behalf of clients with claims of civil rights violations
is a direct outgrowth of our work in criminal defense and juvenile
law — and we are stronger advocates in civil rights violation
cases because we understand the criminal justice and juvenile justice
systems so well.
A successful civil rights violation claim
requires not only improper or illegal action by a government employee,
but also demonstrated harm to the victim — for example, physical
injury, property damage or deprivation of parental rights. The
reality is that the harm must be fairly substantial in order for
a civil rights violation lawsuit to succeed.
Some examples of the types of civil rights violations we have seen
over the years include:
Police misconduct and excessive
force: The law states that a police officer must respond
to aggressive behavior with action that responds adequately
but not excessively to the aggressive behavior. There is a
proper spectrum of police response. When a police officer uses
a Taser or a baton on a suspect who is only resisting verbally,
that may constitute illegal police brutality and a civil rights
violation.
False arrest: If a police
officer detains a person without reasonable cause for too long
a period of time, the detention may be a civil rights violation.
Fourth Amendment violations: Illegal
searches and seizures sometimes cause physical injury or property
damage to an innocent bystander. For example, if police officers
execute a search warrant on the home of a suspect's family member,
without reasonable cause to believe the suspect lives there or
is present at the time, and if people are injured or property
is damaged during the search, that may be a violation of civil
rights.
CPS/CFS misconduct: More
often than we would like to think, Child Protective Services
agency officers will remove a child from a home without a proper
court order and without legal justification or evidence that
the child is in imminent physical danger. A parent whose children
are removed from the home in such a way may have a claim against
the county for violation of civil rights. Often these claims
are a combination of actions between CPS/CFS and law enforcement.
If you believe you may have a valid claim
for violation of your civil rights at the hands of police officers
or officers of Child Protective Services, we urge you to contact
our office for a free and confidential initial consultation with
a knowledgeable lawyer. We have offices in both Pittsburg
and Walnut Creek, California, and we represent clients throughout the entire
state of California.
We have successfully litigated claims against many government agencies,
large national corporations prominent employer defense law firms.
With our skill, energy, resources, education and training -- we
are capable to litigate your claim against anyone. We take the
time to listen to the facts and circumstances of your case and
carefully evaluate how we can help you understand and fight your
case.
To make an appointment, call 925-952-8900, or
send us an e-mail.
|
