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Cochran Firm Blog
US Capitol riot raises questions…
Investigations into how pro-Trump rioters came to overrun the Capitol building need to reckon with US history, experts say, and whether a racial double standard has been embedded in forces
Turning the Tide
Civil rights attorney Brian Dunn has been around long enough to see judges and juries shift their attitude about police officers. The Cochran Firm California’s managing partner, Brian T.
Biden and Harris – Time’s Person of the Year 2020
For the first time in history, a president-elect and vice president-elect have appeared together on a Time’s cover. Read More
Two Los Angeles County deputies fired nearly three dozen rounds into a white Kia Forte as its driver reversed through an apartment complex parking lot in Willowbrook. While the passenger
LA County to settle death of Ryan Twyman, for close to $4M
LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County leaders approve a $3.9 million settlement of a federal lawsuit brought by the grieving family of Ryan Twyman, an unarmed man from Compton who was killed
STERLING BROWN FROM THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS’ RECEIVES $750,000 IN POLICE MISCONDUCT CASE
Police officers in Milwaukee over two years ago, Milwaukee Bucks guard Sterling Brown has agreed to a $750,000 settlement with the city of Milwaukee. Read More
Trump Faces Tough Road With Getting Supreme Court
President Donald Trump has said there’s one place he wants to determine the outcome of the presidential election: the U.S. Supreme Court. But he may have a difficult time getting
Stockton mothers speak out against police brutality
Black Lives Matter demonstrators stopped traffic in Stockton for several hours to protest police brutality. Read More
Why Nigerians are protesting police brutality and it’s spreading
Nigeria has been rocked by days of nationwide protests over police brutality, harassment, and extortion by a controversial police unit known as the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). Read More
Nipsey Hussle Estate Sues the Crips
Samuel Asghedom, the brother of Nipsey Hussle and administrator of the late rapper’s estate, filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against the Crips LLC, in U.S. District Court in California. Read
ACLU Sues Omaha for Police Misconduct during Protests
The ACLU of Nebraska has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the City of Omaha, alleging that its police department violated protester’s constitutional rights by using excessive force, misapplying
Arraigned L.A man speaks out
“I thought they were just playing games with me, like a prank” Suspect got a chance and speaks out his innocence. Click on the link to find out what the
Archie Williams returns with another spectacular performance in ‘America’s Got Talent’
The 59-year-old Baton Rouge native related that he was falsely accused of the rape and stabbing of a woman at her home in the Hundred Oaks area of Baton Rouge
Hours after President Trump stood on the South Lawn of the White House to rail against what he called agitators bent on destroying “the American way of life,” thousands of
‘America’s Got Talent’s contestant wishes to win show and case against false accusation
It was a dream that couldn’t have seemed further from reality. Williams, an African American man from a humble background in Baton Rouge, was serving a life sentence plus 80
Uber and Lyft threaten to shut down in CA
A flurry of notifications lighted up the phones of Lyft and Uber users in California early this week. A California appeals court granted an emergency stay Thursday allowing Uber and Lyft
New video of mortal Piedmont Hospital crash released
Attorneys for a woman injured in a deadly crash at Piedmont Hospital released a new video of the incident Tuesday and said they may file a lawsuit. New footage
County health director addressed fatal L.A. party – that happened after ‘legally binding’ orders
Hours before the Beverly Crest shooting, aerial video from Sky5 showed a mansion on Mulholland Drive packed with people. In a statement Wednesday, the L.A. County Department of Public Health

“No evidence that shows having a higher score makes for better lawyers,”-California eases its bar exam score
For more than three decades, California has clung to one of the nation’s toughest testing standards for law school students hoping to practice law in the most populous state in
President Trump on Wednesday said that the Justice Department would send federal law enforcement officials to Democratic-led cities experiencing an increase in violent crime, including Chicago, and again tried to draw a direct line
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Warns “It’s time to cancel everything” as ICU Cases Hit New High
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Monday that the city’s COVID-19 threat meter is “on the border of going to red,” the highest level, which would mean a complete shutdown in L.A. owing
The civil rights auditors Facebook hired to scrutinize its record delivered on Wednesday a long-awaited and scathing indictment of the social media giant’s decisions to prioritize free speech above other
Understanding of Tech-law
Have you ever heard of “tech law”? If you have it’s probably because it’s one of the most popular law practices today. The boom of startups in the 1990s, where
For more than 40 years, associates at Dorsey & Whitney helped the Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office prosecute misdemeanor cases. Each year, a handful of the firm’s litigation associates would spend
The Supreme Court dealt a major blow to President Donald Trump’s efforts to crack down on sanctuary policies on Monday when it refused to take up a case challenging a California law
A 59-year-man exonerated last year after spending 36 years behind bars for a rape and stabbing in Baton Rouge that he didn’t commit is seeking compensation in a federal lawsuit.
A Peaceful March Around Los Angeles on Saturday
Thousands of people gathered at more than a dozen peaceful demonstrations around Los Angeles on Saturday to protest the death of George Floyd and other black Americans at the hands of police.
Ready or not, life is returning to some sort of normal in the United States, and normal inevitably includes police officers killing an unarmed black man in their custody, followed
Face Masks mandated by Law in These States
Face masks have become one of the most enduring — and surprisingly controversial — images of the coronavirus pandemic that’s been tearing through the US for more than two months
Elon Musk Voilating The Law
It’s not exactly the Montgomery bus boycott, and Elon Musk is no Rosa Parks, but Tesla is apparently engaged in a highly unusual act of corporate civil disobedience. Ordered by
Los Angeles County public health officials announced a five-stage “Recovery Roadmap” on Wednesday, May 6, which eases some aspects of Safer at Home orders issued on March 19. Here’s what you
Absolute Reasons to Hire a Lawyer
While each person’s legal situation is different, there are times when you really should hire a lawyer. In fact, failing to work with an attorney in certain instances can lead
10 Hidden Truths About Lawyers – Revealed
If you’re facing criminal charges or have been wronged by an insurance company, you may know you need a lawyer, yet be reluctant to contact one. There is lots of
What will life look like when stay-at-home orders are lifted? As President Trump tells governors to “call your own shots” in easing social distancing restrictions, local officials are already thinking about how to loosen
In Catalonia a project has been launched to help neighborhood bookshops stay afloat during the lockdown Times are tough for independent businesses that have been forced to shutter their stores
Coronavirus U.S Death Toll Crosses 500 for First Time
Monday was the first day that the number of U.S. deaths due to the coronavirus grew by more than 500, according to data compiled by The Washington Post. Almost half of
For more than six years, through two governors and hundreds of lawmakers’ votes, California’s state government slowly built the largest cash reserve in its history — projected to total $21
Coronavirus relief: Trump approves legislations
President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law a coronavirus relief package that includes provisions for free testing for Covid-19 and paid emergency leave. The Senate had earlier Wednesday approved the House-passed
Massacre In America
Access to guns are so prevalent that it might have something to do with it. But the discussion that we’re going to have today in the wake of two horribly
Misreporting: A Crime?
We want to know, should the reporting of false news be a crime? It’s that simple. Should the reporting of false information be something that is not protected by our freedom of speech? Should it be something that we look at as a crime? And as we start to delve and peel the layers back on this very complicated subject, one of the things that we’re confronted with is the fact that we’re living in an age that is quite unprecedented.
New York (CNN Business) Can a knife emoji double as a threat to kill someone? Does a heart emoji from a manager constitute sexual harassment? More emojis are showing up in court cases
Family of a 24-year-old man shot and killed by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies and the man who was with him filed a claim Wednesday for damages against the county,
Problems Associated With Use of Force
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has sound policies in place to prevent the unnecessary use of deadly force. The following excerpts from the Use of Force Policy apply to
What Is The Electoral College?
What is the Electoral College? The Electoral College is made up of 538 electors who cast votes to decide the President and Vice-President of the United States. When voters go
Homelessness – A National Crisis
Americans need to go beyond holiday volunteerism and become more intentional about helping the homeless year-round. The reasons people become homeless vary; addiction and mental health disorders are often cited,
Tollison Press Release
The Cochran Firm is pleased to announce the May 21, 2019 findings of the Los Angles Police Department’s five member civilian review board, known as the Board of Police Commissioners
All you need to know about death penalty
Here’s a look at the death penalty in the United States. Facts: As of October 11, 2018, capital punishment is legal in 30 US states. Federal Government: The US government
Death with cancer over assisted suicide
The ‘death with dignity’ movement gives in to despair and preys on terminally ill patients when they are most vulnerable. On Dec. 30, as snowflakes fell outside his window, my
Saved Man from Conviction – Jury Duty
Jury duty is not a punch line. I helped decide a case about police, a black driver and a traffic stop, and I never felt more significant as a
Bezos extortion under investigatation by AMI
The National Enquirer’s parent company said Friday that it will investigate Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ claims that he was extorted and blackmailed after he launched a probe into how the National
Hundred years of The Drug War
One hundred years ago this week President Woodrow Wilson signed the Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914 and committed the federal government to combating the domestic drug trade. If any
Criminal prosecutions of law enforcement officers – KABC 790 – A Nation Divided Excerpt 2
The following was taken from Brian Dunn’s radio show “A Nation Divided”, which is aired live every Saturday at 4 pm Pacific Time on 790 KABC. Brian Dunn: We are KABC
Criminal prosecutions of law enforcement officers – KABC 790 – A Nation Divided Excerpt
The following was taken from Brian Dunn’s radio show “A Nation Divided”, which is aired live every Saturday at 4 pm Pacific Time on 790 KABC. Brian Dunn: We are
All you need to know about Flint Taylor
G. FLINT TAYLOR, a graduate of Brown University and Northwestern Law School, is a founding partner of the People’s Law Office in Chicago, an office which has been dedicated to
Reverend James Lawson-Special Guest on ‘The Nation Divided’
This week’s special guest on A Nation Divided with Brian Dunn is Rev. James M. Lawson, one of the great leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement. Lawson was also
Cochran Firm Announces Wrongful Death and Negligence against LAPD: A Question and Answer Summary
On Wednesday, August 1st, 2018, the Cochran Firm California held a press conference where they declared their wrongful death and negligence claim against the Los Angeles Police Department. Q: What
Cochran Firm Announces Wrongful Death and Negligence against LAPD: A Press Conference Summary
On Wednesday, August 1st, 2018, the Cochran Firm California held a press conference where they declared their wrongful death and negligence claim against the Los Angeles Police Department. And, this
The Cochran Firm California will represent Mr. Darris Love in unlawful detainment case. Article below is credited to mynewsla.com. After he was handcuffed, Love said he asked officers to check
Officers and Trigger-Fingers?
I’ve always hated the term trigger happy because I don’t think any officer is ever feeling joy when they pull the trigger. But I do think that questioning why they
Would police trainings and excessive force instances be reduced if you had a situations where officers received sensitivity training on race? Well, it certainly is not going to hurt. It’s
Psyche of a Police Officer
In almost every officer involved shooting, if you really dig into them and isolate the dynamics and the energy that precipitates this use of deadly force, what you’re going to
History, Culture and Police Shootings
It’s very interesting to me that since about the last three or four years, ever since the situation involving Trayvon Martin, the national consciousness has been thinking about police shootings
Police’s Help Without Harm!
What can I do if you want the police to help and you don’t want the person to be hurt? Well, the first thing you can do is if you’re
Dangerous People Ignored by Police
If you warn the police about someone who is dangerous and they do nothing, are the police responsible? In the eyes of right or wrong, the answer is, yes, they
Law Enforcement Members -A Community
So there’s this cafe in Oakland named “Hasta Muerte Coffee”. Oakland, as you well know, is an urban community in Northern California. It has had a long history of being
Police Officers and the Mentally disturbed
Today, I want to take a moment and talk about what is the law enforcement’s response to those who are mentally ill. Law enforcement officers are most commonly seen in
IAM2018 Announcement
For those who do not know what IAM2018 is, it is a continuation of the fight that Dr. Martin Luther King, jr. did for the civil rights of all African-Americans
SEIZING YOUR RIGHTS AND 4TH AMENDMENT
So, what protections do you have under the Fourth Amendment? Location matters !! Of course, in many cases, whether your search falls into these case law “definitions” may be
Vegas Shooting
Like many Americans, we at the firm were shocked, mortified, and deeply saddened by the horrific events that took place in Las Vegas on Sunday. When events transpire that illustrate
The Las Vegas Genocide
Like many Americans, we at the firm were shocked, mortified, and deeply saddened by the horrific events that took place in Las Vegas on Sunday. When events transpire that illustrate
Trump’s “Law & Order” Speech cont. – Part 2
In a speech delivered to a group of law enforcement officials in a New York suburb last Friday, President Trump, quite literally, encouraged their use of excessive force, stating “When
As Americans, at some point in our education, perhaps even from early childhood, we have been taught that the President of the United States is the leader of our nation,
Trump’s “Law & Order” Speech
As Americans, at some point in our education, perhaps even from early childhood, we have been taught that the President of the United States is the leader of our nation,
There is nothing that can adequately prepare a California family to deal with the unexpected loss of a loved one. In the event that a serious accident claims the life
How Can You Better Avoid Car Crashes?
There are dozens of ways to make yourself and others safer on the roads. From wearing sunglasses on bright days to slowing down, knowing a few tips for traffic safety
Many people say it all the time, “Flying is still the safest way to travel,” but you found out the hard way that doesn’t mean that planes never crash. Granted,
Equal Pay for Equal Work?
Both California and federal laws state that men and women should receive equal pay for equal work, but unfortunately, some employers still violate these laws. You should receive fair pay
Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. Essay Contest
What Impact Has Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. Had on Social Justice? Johnnie Cochran was also instrumental in the fight for social justice both in the field and in the courtroom.
Domestic Partnerships
Domestic Partnerships, Post Same-Sex Marriage Unless you’ve been abstaining from news lately, you know that last month the U.S. Supreme Court decided that all couples in America have a fundamental
A License To Kill
It has been said that the police officer on the beat is the most powerful person in the American justice system. More powerful than a congressman who makes laws, more