Government and Public Entity Law is one of the fastest growing practice areas at Burnham Brown. We are particularly skilled in the defense of claims under federal and state civil rights laws. We have extensive experience representing state agencies, city and county governments, law enforcement agencies, air and water quality districts, school districts, community colleges, public service districts, airport and transportation authorities, housing authorities, law enforcement officers, and public utilities.
Areas of Expertise
Government Tort Claims
- California Tort Claim Act
- Negligence/Personal injuries
- Premises liability
- Warranty of Habitability
- Design claims
- Property damage
- Unlawful detainer
Administration Law
- Regulatory compliance
- Permits and licensing
- Environmental investigation and remediation
Civil Rights Claims
- Use of Force/Excessive Force
- Discrimination
- 42 U.S.C. 1983
- Title IX
- ADA claims
- Public Records Act Requests
Labor and Employment
- Discrimination
- Sexual harassment
- Wrongful discharge
- Wage and hour regulations
- Independent contractor/employee status
- Whistleblower/retaliation
American with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Public access issues
- Enforcement proceedings
- Counseling
- Compliance policies
Representative Engagements in Government and Public Entity Law
Litigation
- Represented and successfully defended police departments and individual officers accused of excessive force, malicious prosecution, and 4th Amendment violations through jury verdict and appeal
- Municipal housing authorities in all stages of litigation, including defense against tenant lawsuit for negligence and third-party criminal conduct
- Defense of county agency in whistleblower/retaliation claims
- Defense of counties in various litigation matters concerning jail conditions and accessibility
- Defense of school districts in Title IX action involving off-campus teacher-student harassment
- Defense of California State University on various matters, including negligence and civil rights claims
Advice and Counsel
Burnham Brown attorneys have extensive experience counseling local government agencies regarding pre-litigation investigation of governmental tort claims. To ensure that our clients receive the best possible representation, our attorneys frequently integrate the expertise of related practice groups, including environmental, employment, insurance, and transportation law. This representation encompasses a wide range of business and transactional matters, including:
- Coordination of pre-transactional strategic plan and negotiations for city government's purchase of transportation equipment
- Counseling for school districts regarding risk management and student transportation issues
- Counseling for city and county government agencies in labor relations and employment law issues
- Counseling for public entities in avoiding ADA claims
- Advising school districts, community colleges, and universities regarding environmental regulatory compliance, including hazardous waste disposal issues
- Counseling for clients through training and continuing education seminars presented in formal or informal settings
Any questions regarding Government and Public Entity Law, please contact Gregory D. Brown, Aimee Hamoy or John J. Verber at 510-444-6800.