OUR FIRM
PROUDLY SERVING
PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL
firefighters & emt’s
AGENCIES & ENTITIES
employee associations
public employees
What We Do
We provide police officers, firefighters & EMT’s, agencies and entities, employee associations and public employees legal representation in civil, criminal, administrative and appellate litigation in state and federal courts. We protect your rights and defend your innocence. We help you protect your loved ones in estate planning and family law arenas, including domestic violence restraining orders. We maintain a strong reputation for professionalism and skilled, sound judgment in representation. We form lasting partnerships with our clients in our pursuit of justice. We gain your trust through our expert legal counsel and client-centered focus.Our focus is on protection and enforcement of civil rights and employment relations. We pride ourselves in providing ethical, highly-skilled, and highly-regarded legal representation, with personal attention to the client’s needs.
Our firm has successfully litigated some of the most significant public sector employee cases in California history. These cases have benefited public employees, not only in California, but throughout the United States.
We provide 24/7 legal services following a critical incident or officer-involved shooting. We have a standing roll-out team of lawyers who respond to any major and critical events such as officer-involved shootings and public safety activity-related injuries and deaths. Following a critical incident or OIS, there is frequently an immediate need for legal representation as criminal and administrative investigations are initiated. Our lawyers have handled hundreds of “rollouts” to police shootings and critical incidents and maintain a on-call schedule of lawyers to respond to these incidents, 24 hours every day.
History
Michael P. Stone and Muna Busailah founded the Firm in 1993. The Firm’s practice specializes in the representation of federal, state and local public safety /public sector employees in administrative, criminal, civil and appellate matters in state and federal courts.
What sets us apart
We offer a team approach to provide you cost-effective, collaborative and flexible case management. Our core values include hard work and effective, zealous representation with integrity.
We have a demonstrated and successful track record in defending those who protect others. Our team of skilled lawyers specialize in advocating for public safety employees in administrative disciplinary hearings, grievance arbitrations and unfair practice charges. Our appellate victories have shaped the laws regarding public sector employment.
Governmental entity defense including civil rights defense, arrest related injury and death, in-custody death matters. Several of our attorneys have held careers in the public sector and are skilled at understanding the special environment in which our public safety clients operate. We also conduct independent objective investigations for municipal fire services.
Critical Incident Response to Use of Force and In-custody Deaths
Our Firm has handled hundreds of “rollouts” to police shootings and critical incidents and maintains an on-call schedule of lawyers to respond to these incidents, 24 hours every day. Following a critical incident there is frequently an immediate need for legal representation as criminal and administrative investigations are initiated.
POBRA
Our team includes several attorneys who have held successful careers in the public sector. Our lawyers are skilled at understanding the special environment in which our public safety clients operate.
Administrative Law Hearings
Our Firm represents peace officers in evidentiary hearings and appeals before Administrative Law Judges and the California State Personnel Board (SPB), as well as before mutually-selected hearing officers conducting disciplinary appeals.
Writ of Mandamus
Our Firm has extensive experience in successfully pursuing writs to enforce the rights of our clients under the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act, Brady Law, and other statutes.
Criminal Defense
Our Firm defends public safety personnel in criminal matters including use of force, domestic disputes, and off duty incidents.
Family Law
Our Firm zealously represents public safety personnel in dissolution, custody, support and restraining order matters.
FPBRA (FBOR)
The Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Act confers broad procedural rights to firefighters and emergency medical technicians. The Act is similar to the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act and when combined with existing case law, provides a framework for enforcing firefighter rights.
Our experienced attorneys effectively defend firefighters accused of misconduct.
Internal Investigations
The fire station environment is unique in public service in that employees live together side by side, 24 hours a day, while performing their duties.
Our attorneys understand the demands of these high stress environments and provide effective representation to firefighters and EMT’s in misconduct investigations, citizen complaints, and EMT/EMT-P standard of care investigations.
Government Liability Defense
Our skilled attorneys represent Governmental entities in civil rights defense, arrest-related injury and death, and in-custody death matters.
Workplace Investigations
Our Firm provides independent, objective investigation services for municipal fire services. Our Attorney Investigators combine their legal expertise with extensive public safety experience to determine relevant facts and identify areas where supervision, training or policy may have been a contributing factor in a misconduct investigation.
Labor Relations and Representation
Our attorneys represent numerous public safety associations in both contract negotiations and meet and confer issues. We work to protect our clients’ collective bargaining rights and enforce contract obligations.
Many public employees who serve as leaders and managers in government entities find themselves facing allegations of workplace misconduct. Our attorneys have successfully represented clients that are:
• City Attorneys
• District Attorneys
• Public Safety Dispatchers
• Administrative Managers
Our attorneys work to ensure fairness in investigations and vigorously protect due process rights in disciplinary proceedings and appeals.