Please Note: The Law Offices of Johnson & Johnson ONLY take cases in California.
Civil Rights Litigation 100% Focused on Your Case

Civil Rights Lawyer in Walnut Creek

Legal Claims Based on Criminal Civil Rights Violation

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 Law Offices of Johnson & Johnson, we investigate claims of civil rights violations at the hands of government employees. Whenever the circumstances show a violation of government authority and consequent physical or emotional harm or violation of a person’s Constitutional or familial rights, you can count on our Walnut Creek civil rights attorneys to tirelessly advocate on your behalf.

If you believe you or a family member has suffered a civil rights violation, we encourage you to contact our Walnut Creek civil rights lawyers by calling (925) 900-5330 for a consultation.

FAQ Videos

Get Your Questions Answered
  • How We Help Civil Rights Cases
  • What Are the Most Common Civil Rights Cases that Your Firm Handles?

    Attorney Peter Johnson discusses the types of ...

  • What Is Considered Police Misconduct in a Civil Rights Case?

    Attorney Peter Johnson explains some examples of ...

/

Meet the Johnson & Johnson Team

We Work Tirelessly in Pursuit of Your Best Interests
  • Peter  Johnson, Esq. Photo
  • Carin L. Johnson, Esq. Photo
  • Bianca  Teran Leichnitz, Esq. Photo
  • Michelle  Gomez Photo
  • Stefanie  Vega Photo
  • Graham  Michiels Photo
  • Peter  Johnson, Esq. Photo
    Peter Johnson, Esq.

    Attorney/Partner

    Peter has 25 years of trial experience, has negotiated thousands of cases and has defended clients in a wide variety of jury trials. While many lawyers avoid the inside of a courtroom, as a litigator, that’s where Peter Johnson feels most comfortable. Let him put his considerable trial experience to work for you.
  • Carin L. Johnson, Esq. Photo
    Carin L. Johnson, Esq.

    Attorney/Partner

    The majority of Carin’s 30+ years of practice is focused on juvenile law. As a parent, she is very dedicated and compassionate about representing parents’ rights in juvenile court. When the system accuses a parent of abuse, it is an extremely serious accusation. Let Carin put her considerable experience to work for you.
  • Bianca  Teran Leichnitz, Esq. Photo
    Bianca Teran Leichnitz, Esq.

    Associate Attorney

    Bianca is the newest attorney to join the Law Offices of Johnson and Johnson. She came to the firm in October 2023. She is ...
  • Michelle  Gomez Photo
    Michelle Gomez

    Legal Administrative Assistant

    Michelle Gomez joined the Law Office of Johnson & Johnson October 2021 as a Legal Administrative Assistant. She is a ...
  • Stefanie  Vega Photo
    Stefanie Vega

    Legal Administrative Assistant

    Stefanie Vega joined the firm as a legal administrative assistant for attorney Peter Johnson in October of 2022. She is ...
  • Graham  Michiels Photo
    Graham Michiels

    Legal Administrative Assistant

    Graham Michiels joined the Law Offices of Johnson & Johnson in the summer of 2021 and has been a trial aide and Legal ...
/

Violation of Civil Rights Examples

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, emotional injury, property damage or deprivation of familial 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. In some cases, officers may even resort to using force that is not even minimally justified.
  • False arrest: If a police officer detains a person without reasonable cause for a specific length of time, the detention may be a civil rights violation. In some instances, a person may be arrested without a warrant when not having committed a crime. This could lead to a claim for false arrest in violation of the 4th amendment.
  • Fourth Amendment violations: Illegal searches and seizures sometimes cause physical injury, emotional 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. Execution of a bad warrant could also be violation of civil rights. Illegal searches in routine traffic stops or entry into your home without a warrant are other examples of 4th amendment violations.
  • CPS/CFS misconduct: More often than we would like to think, Social Workers and Law Enforcement 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 risk of serious bodily injury. The parents and the child who is removed from the home will each have claims for constitutional violations in cases involving unlawful removal. 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 social workers, we urge you to contact our office for a confidential confidential consultation with a knowledgeable lawyer. We represent clients throughout the entire state of California.

Complete our online contact form or call our Walnut Creek civil rights attorneys directly at (925) 900-5330 today.

Real Clients, Real Results

Read What Our Former Clients Have to Say
  • “Trust his process and his strategy, and you’ll be in good hands.”

    - Former Client
  • “Carin Johnson is the most knowledgeable, exceptional attorney anyone can hire. When other attorneys tell you that you have no chance and to give up, Carin will fight for your rights and give it all that she has.”

    - Former Client
  • “He’s extremely knowledgeable, and clearly is very experienced. I can’t imagine going through this ordeal with someone lacking these skills.”

    - Former Client
  • “Dependency and juvenile court procedures are frighteningly byzantine to those of us on the “outside”, and her compassion and knowledge in fighting for us in that court helped change things in that county.”

    - Former Client
  • “I trust no one else to fight for life’s most important gift, my family, and my daughter’s best interest. I am so grateful to Carin as an attorney, and as a friend.”

    - Former Client
/

Committed to Excellence

Awards & Affiliations
  • Super Lawyers
  • Contra Costa County Bar
  • National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center
  • Avvo 10.0 Peter
  • NACDL
  • California Appellate Defense Counsel
  • State Bar of CA
  • California DUI Lawyers Association
  • NCDD

Get Started on Your Case

Request a Consultation

The Law Offices of Johnson & Johnson handles cases throughout California including Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Santa Clara, San Joaquin, and San Francisco Counties.

  • Please enter your first name.
  • Please enter your last name.
  • Please enter your phone number.
    This isn't a valid phone number.
  • Please enter your email address.
    This isn't a valid email address.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please enter a message.