Civil rights and liberties are at the heart of who we are as a self-governing people. They give meaning to the fundamental promise that the government will respect everyone’s unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, equally. For too many, this is an unfulfilled promise.

Whether you have been discriminated against, falsely arrested, denied due process, injured while protesting, or targeted for exercising your First Amendment rights, we take pride in holding the government accountable and helping our clients vindicate their rights inside and outside of courtroom.

We take civil rights cases concerning administrative complaints against the police, section 1983 claims against government officials and agencies, Federal Tort Claims Act claims against the federal government, Hawaiʻi State Tor Liability Act claims against the state, and injunctive relief against unconstitutional conduct.

Some representative matters include:

• A civil rights lawsuit by the mother of a Black ten-year elementary school student who was arrested and unnecessarily handcuffed for making a drawing at her elementary school.

• An age discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against the Honolulu Fire Department brought by a forty-five year-old recruit who was terminated from the academy after he complained of age discrimination to his superior and the union.

• Successful appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reinstating an excessive force lawsuit against the Honolulu Police Department brought by the estate of a 32-year old, disabled veteran who was shot and killed by the police at his home after an hours-long standoff.