Law FirmSchonbrun Seplow Harris Hoffman & Zeldes, LLP
9415 Culver Blvd. #115, Culver City, California, 90232
California's Civil Rights Powerhouse Since 1990
Schonbrun Seplow Harris Hoffman & Zeldes, LLP has spent over three decades as one of California's most formidable civil rights firms, building an unmatched record of taking on police departments, sheriffs' departments, and government entities across the state. Founded in 1990, the firm's team of 10+ trial lawyers has litigated landmark cases at every level — from California state courts up to the United States Supreme Court — consistently expanding the rights of victims of police misconduct, excessive force, and false arrest.
The firm's partner Paul L. Hoffman is widely recognized as one of the country's leading civil rights litigators, having argued multiple landmark cases before the U.S. Supreme Court including Vega v. Tekoh — a pivotal Miranda rights case — and the consolidated Nestle/Cargill human rights cases. His victories have shaped binding precedent on police accountability throughout the Ninth Circuit and beyond. Attorney Catherine Sweetser, who also serves on the faculty of UCLA School of Law, brings rigorous constitutional scholarship to complex civil rights litigation. Constitutional law icon Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of UC Berkeley School of Law, is affiliated with the firm.
SSHHZ has a proven track record against law enforcement specifically. The firm secured a $8,000,000 verdict in B.B. v. County of Los Angeles, which the California Supreme Court unanimously affirmed in full — rejecting the county's attempt to reduce damages based on the victim's contributory negligence. The firm also obtained a Ninth Circuit ruling in Tekoh v. County of Los Angeles establishing that officers who elicit statements without Miranda warnings and use them to prosecute the speaker are personally liable for civil rights damages. Following the murder of George Floyd, SSHHZ filed class actions against both the LAPD and the LA County Sheriff's Department seeking injunctions against the use of projectiles and chemical agents on peaceful protesters.
The firm handles police misconduct cases on a contingency fee basis and maintains four offices across California — Culver City, South Pasadena, Hermosa Beach, and San Diego — enabling it to serve clients and litigate statewide.
Notable Results
- B.B. v. County of Los Angeles — California Supreme Court unanimously reinstated $8,000,000 verdict for family of Darren Burley, killed by LA County Sheriff's Deputy; rejected county's attempt to offset damages by victim's contributory negligence
- Tekoh v. County of Los Angeles — Ninth Circuit held (and argued at US Supreme Court) that police officers who elicit un-Mirandized statements and cause them to be used in prosecution are personally liable for civil rights damages
- Class action injunction against LAPD — obtained injunctive relief prohibiting LAPD from firing projectiles into crowds and mass-detaining peaceful protesters in unventilated buses following George Floyd protests (2020)
- Class action TRO against LA County Sheriff's Department — filed for restraining order against indiscriminate use of rubber bullets, tear gas, and chemical agents at protests (2020)
Key Characteristics
- Partner Paul L. Hoffman has argued multiple landmark civil rights cases before the United States Supreme Court, including Vega v. Tekoh on Miranda rights and Nestle USA v. Doe on corporate liability for human rights abuses
- Constitutional law icon Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of UC Berkeley School of Law, is affiliated with the firm — one of the most prominent constitutional scholars in America
- Attorney Catherine Sweetser is also a faculty member at UCLA School of Law, bringing rigorous academic constitutional expertise to frontline civil rights litigation
- Attorney Mike Seplow received the 2021 Daily Journal CLAY Award and was a finalist for the CAOC Street Fighter of the Year — one of the highest honors for California plaintiff attorneys
- Founded in 1990 with over 35 years of continuous civil rights practice against law enforcement agencies, government entities, and corporations
- Team of 10+ experienced trial lawyers across four California offices — Culver City, South Pasadena, Hermosa Beach, and San Diego
- Takes police misconduct cases on a contingency fee basis — clients pay nothing unless the firm wins
- Has litigated statewide class actions against major California law enforcement agencies, expanding constitutional protections for protesters and individuals in police custody