Civil Rights Litigation
We litigate civil rights claims against government entities, employers, and institutions.
700%
U.S. prison population growth from 1972-2009, far outpacing crime rates and population growth.
1
Nazgol Ghandnoosh, “U.S. Prison Population Trends 1997-2017: Massive Buildup and Modest Decline,” The Sentencing Project (Sep. 17, 2019).
$182B
The U.S. spent an estimated $182 billion on its criminal justice system in 2023, reflecting costs beyond incarceration.
2
Prison Policy Initiative, “United States Profile,” Prison Policy Initiative (2024).
2.7M
Approximately 2.7 million U.S. children have at least one parent in prison, disproportionately affecting children of color.
3
Dionne Barnes-Proby, Celia J. Gomez, Monica Williams, Matt Strawn, Isabel Leamon, “Programs for Incarcerated Parents: Preliminary Findings from a Pilot Survey,” RAND Corporation (Feb. 8, 2022).
21,000+
In 2017, Massachusetts dismissed 21,587 drug convictions due to a state chemist’s falsification of evidence, exposing systemic criminal justice corruption.
4
ACLU of Massachusetts, “Bridgeman v. District Attorney for Suffolk County,” (April 19, 2017).
The U.S. makes up 5% of the global population but holds nearly 25% of the world’s incarcerated.
5
NAACP, “Criminal Justice Fact Sheet,” (2024).
In the U.S., justice often intersects with wealth and racial bias, leading to widespread civil rights abuses. Systemic discrimination continues to result in unequal treatment, particularly for Black, Brown, and other marginalized communities.
Mass incarceration does not make us safer or deliver true justice. Its consequences are stark: nearly 10 million Americans, including millions of children, have a family member incarcerated. Additionally, over 5 million people are disenfranchised due to past convictions. This system also impacts our economy, with an annual GDP loss estimated between $78 and $87 billion.
Our firm advocates for justice and compensation for victims of civil rights abuses.
Overview
The United States, a beacon of democracy rooted in principles of justice, freedom, and equality, continues to grapple with its history of oppression. Persistent racial disparities in education, employment, housing, and justice, coupled with mass incarceration and unequal sentencing, remain prevalent. Our firm helps those affected seek justice and compensation.
The prison-industrial complex profits from incarceration, paying inmates as little as $0.12 an hour.
6
Wendy Sawyer, “How much do incarcerated people earn in each state?” Prison Policy Initiative (April 10, 2017).
Justice for Wrongful Convictions
The revelations surrounding the malpractices of state chemists, Sonja Farak and Annie Dookhan, as detailed in the Netflix documentary How to Fix a Drug Scandal, have profoundly shaken the Massachusetts justice system. The misconduct of these individuals, ranging from drug theft and use to falsifying thousands of test results, brought into question the integrity of over 40,000 drug cases. Such a significant breach highlights not just the actions of two individuals but exposes serious systemic failures at the state level. Those wrongfully convicted are entitled to seek legal remedies, including possible compensation.
From 1980 to 2022, the number of incarcerated women in the U.S. increased by more than 585%.
7
Kristen M. Budd, Ph.D., “Incarcerated Women and Girls,” The Sentencing Project (July 24, 2024).
Your Civil Rights
The United States is recognized globally for its strong commitment to civil rights, yet violations remain alarmingly common.
U.S. residents are entitled to:
- Protection from discrimination as a member of a protected class under laws such as Title VII, the ADA, and the Fair Housing Act.
- The freedoms of speech, religion, and assembly under the First Amendment.
- Procedural due process under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.
- The right to petition the government for grievances.
Civil rights violations may include workplace discrimination, wrongful termination, or retaliation against whistleblowers under statutes like the False Claims Act. Other examples include disability rights violations, sexual harassment or assault, police misconduct, excessive force, unlawful searches or seizures, cruel and unusual punishment, housing discrimination, retaliatory evictions, labor law violations, hate crimes, human trafficking, and inequities in education or public accommodations.
From 1989 to 2020, 375 people were exonerated in the U.S. based on DNA evidence, with 69% of exonerees being people of color, highlighting systemic issues like eyewitness misidentification, false confessions, and forensic science errors.
8
Innocence Project, “DNA Exonerations in the United States (1989 – 2020),” (accessed September 2024).
“Slavery didn’t end in 1865. It just evolved.” – Bryan Stevenson
9
Liz Mineo, “The need to talk about race,” The Harvard Gazette (Dec. 7, 2017).
Lawyers' Role
We offer representation in both civil and criminal trials:
- Discrimination and Harassment: Address employment discrimination, sexual harassment, and workplace retaliation cases, seeking fair compensation.
- Police Misconduct: Provide legal support in cases involving excessive force, racial profiling, unlawful searches, and other civil rights violations by law enforcement.
- Unlawful Arrests: Challenge detentions or arrests made without probable cause or legal justification.
- Wrongful Termination: Pursue remedies for terminations that violate anti-discrimination or retaliation laws.
- Settlement and Trial: Work toward fair settlements and prepare cases for trial to promote accountability.
How We Can Help
Challenge Systemic Civil Rights Violations and Wrongful Convictions
Pursue post-conviction relief and compensation for individuals subjected to wrongful incarceration, excessive sentencing, or prosecutorial misconduct.
Combat Workplace Discrimination and Retaliation
Litigate claims of racial, gender, disability, and religious discrimination, including whistleblower retaliation cases.
Hold Corporations Accountable for Algorithmic and AI-Based Discrimination
Challenge bias in automated hiring systems, credit scoring, facial recognition, and algorithmic policing.
Protect Individuals from Unlawful Surveillance and Digital Privacy Violations
Confront illegal government surveillance, biometric data misuse, and workplace monitoring that violates privacy rights.
Confront Police Misconduct and Abuses of Authority
Represent victims of unlawful arrests, excessive force, racial profiling, and wrongful shootings.
Seek Justice for Victims of Hate Crimes and Targeted Violence
Pursue civil remedies for individuals harmed by bias-motivated attacks and threats.
Hold Institutions Accountable for Sexual Abuse and Human Trafficking
Represent survivors of institutional sexual abuse, workplace harassment, and trafficking-related exploitation.
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Fight for Reproductive Justice and Healthcare Access
Challenge restrictions on reproductive rights and represent individuals denied essential medical services due to bias or religious exemptions.
Pursue Legal Action for Environmental Racism
Represent communities disproportionately impacted by pollution, hazardous waste, and toxic exposure.
Address Housing Discrimination and Algorithmic Redlining
Challenge discriminatory lending, landlord bias, and AI-driven tenant screening that restricts housing access.
Protect Public Protesters and Free Speech Advocates
Defend activists, journalists, and whistleblowers facing unlawful arrests, excessive force, or retaliatory legal actions.
Advocate for Disability Rights and Public Accommodation Protections
Bring claims against businesses, schools, and government entities that fail to provide reasonable accommodations.
LGBTQ+ Rights Defense
Challenge laws restricting LGBTQ+ healthcare access or censoring LGBTQ+ expression.
Reproductive Rights Interstate Defense
Fight attempts to penalize individuals or organizations for seeking or aiding reproductive healthcare across state lines.
Voting Rights & Election Access
Challenge voter suppression tactics and discriminatory election laws that disenfranchise marginalized communities.
Prisoner Rights & Inhumane Conditions
Advocate for incarcerated individuals subjected to abusive conditions, inadequate healthcare, or solitary confinement.
Genetic Nondiscrimination (GINA) Enforcement
Bring claims against employers or insurers who misuse genetic information in hiring, benefits, or underwriting.
Appellate & Supreme Court Litigation
Handle civil rights appeals from emergency stays to certiorari strategy.
