Championing Your Constitutional Freedoms in California

At Justin Palmer Law Group, we stand as dedicated advocates for individuals whose civil rights have been violated. As a passionate California civil rights lawyer team, we understand the profound impact that civil rights violations can have on your life, dignity, and well-being. Our mission is to provide comprehensive legal representation that restores justice and upholds the constitutional principles that protect all Californians. Contact us today to begin your path toward accountability and recovery.

Understanding Civil Rights in California

California's civil rights landscape is shaped by both federal protections and the state's own robust legal framework. These laws safeguard individuals from discrimination and mistreatment based on protected characteristics including race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, and more.

As your California civil rights lawyer, we navigate this complex legal terrain with precision and dedication. We recognize that each case represents not just a legal challenge, but a deeply personal struggle for dignity, equality, and fair treatment.

California Civil Rights Cases We Take

As a California civil rights lawyer team, Justin Palmer Law Group stands firmly against law enforcement misconduct and excessive force. We are committed to protecting the constitutional rights of individuals who have experienced police brutality and related civil rights violations.

Police Misconduct and Excessive Force Cases

• Excessive Force: Our excessive force lawyers represent victims who have suffered injuries due to unnecessary or disproportionate physical force by police officers during arrests, detentions, or other interactions.
• False Arrest and Unlawful Detention: Our false arrest lawyers advocate for individuals who have been wrongfully arrested without probable cause or detained beyond legally permissible timeframes, violations that often disproportionately impact minority communities.
• Racial Profiling: Our racial profiling lawyers handle cases where law enforcement has targeted, detained, or used force against individuals based primarily on their race, ethnicity, or national origin rather than legitimate suspicion of criminal activity.
• Unreasonable Search and Seizure: Our search and seizure lawyers protect Fourth Amendment rights when police conduct searches without warrants, probable cause, or proper consent, including improper vehicle searches, home invasions, and unlawful property seizures.
• Jail and Prison Abuse: Our prison abuse lawyers represent incarcerated individuals who have experienced physical abuse, denial of medical care, or inhumane conditions while in custody.
• Deadly Force Cases: Our wrongful death lawyers provide compassionate representation to families who have lost loved ones due to unjustified police shootings or other fatal applications of force, seeking accountability and systemic change.
• First Amendment Violations: Our First Amendment lawyers defend protesters and activists whose rights to free speech and peaceful assembly have been violated through excessive crowd control measures, targeted arrests, or retaliatory actions.
• Qualified Immunity Challenges: Our qualified immunity lawyers have extensive experience navigating the complex legal doctrine of qualified immunity that often shields officers from liability, developing strategies to overcome these significant legal hurdles.
• Body Camera and Evidence Suppression: Our evidence suppression lawyers handle cases involving missing or tampered body camera footage, destroyed evidence, or falsified police reports that attempt to cover up misconduct.
• Pattern and Practice Litigation: Our pattern and practice lawyers pursue cases that address systemic problems within law enforcement agencies, seeking injunctive relief and policy changes beyond individual compensation.
• Section 1983 Civil Rights Claims: Our Section 1983 lawyers file federal civil rights lawsuits under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against government officials who violate constitutional rights while acting under color of law.
• Bystander Trauma Cases: Our bystander trauma lawyers represent individuals who have suffered psychological trauma from witnessing police brutality against family members or others, recognizing the lasting impact of such experiences.

Our Commitment to Justice

At Justin Palmer Law Group, we believe in holding law enforcement accountable while working toward meaningful systemic reform. Our California civil rights lawyers combine thorough investigation, strategic litigation, and unwavering advocacy to secure justice for victims of police misconduct. Contact us today for a consultation about your civil rights case.

Financial Compensation You May Be Entitled To After Being Injured By Police

As California civil rights lawyers, we fight vigorously to secure all forms of financial compensation available to victims of police misconduct and excessive force. When your constitutional rights have been violated, you deserve full and fair compensation for your damages.

Types of Compensation Available in Police Misconduct Cases

• Medical Expenses: Our civil rights lawyers work to recover the full cost of emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, medication, physical therapy, and future medical treatment needed as a result of injuries caused by police misconduct.
• Lost Wages: Our employment damages lawyers seek compensation for income lost while recovering from your injuries, as well as reduced earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous occupation.
• Pain and Suffering: Our personal injury lawyers pursue compensation for the physical pain and discomfort experienced both immediately after the incident and throughout your recovery process.
• Emotional Distress: Our psychological injury lawyers fight for compensation for anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep disturbances, and other psychological effects resulting from traumatic encounters with law enforcement.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Our quality of life lawyers seek damages when police misconduct has diminished your ability to participate in hobbies, recreational activities, and daily routines that previously brought you joy and fulfillment.
• Permanent Disability: Our disability rights lawyers pursue substantial compensation when police actions have caused permanent impairments that affect your mobility, cognition, or ability to care for yourself independently.
• Disfigurement and Scarring: Our disfigurement injury lawyers seek additional compensation for visible scarring, amputation, or other physical alterations that affect your appearance and may cause social stigma or psychological distress.
• Wrongful Death Damages: Our wrongful death lawyers help families recover funeral expenses, lost financial support, loss of companionship, and the victim's pre-death pain and suffering when police misconduct results in fatality.
• Punitive Damages: Our civil rights lawyers pursue punitive damages in cases involving particularly egregious misconduct, seeking to punish willful violations of constitutional rights and deter similar future behavior.
• Attorney's Fees and Costs: Our legal advocacy ensures that successful civil rights plaintiffs can recover reasonable attorney's fees and litigation costs from the defendants under federal civil rights statutes.
• Injunctive Relief: Our systemic reform lawyers work to secure court orders requiring police departments to implement policy changes, additional training, or other reforms to prevent future civil rights violations.
• Settlement Agreements: Our negotiation lawyers often secure confidential settlement agreements that provide compensation without the stress and uncertainty of a trial while still holding departments accountable.

Fighting for Maximum Compensation

At Justin Palmer Law Group, our California civil rights lawyers understand the true value of your case and will never settle for less than you deserve. We thoroughly document all aspects of your damages and leverage our extensive experience in police misconduct litigation to maximize your financial recovery. Contact our office today to discuss your case with a dedicated civil rights attorney who will fight tirelessly for your just compensation.

Injuries Associated with Civil Rights Violations by Police

As California civil rights lawyers, we regularly represent clients who have suffered various physical and psychological injuries due to police misconduct and excessive force. These injuries can have devastating long-term consequences for victims and their families.

Common Injuries in Police Misconduct Cases

• Traumatic Brain Injuries: Our traumatic brain injury lawyers represent clients who have suffered concussions, contusions, and more severe TBIs from blows to the head during arrests or detention, often resulting in cognitive impairment, memory loss, and permanent disability.
• Spinal Cord Damage: Our spinal injury lawyers handle cases involving partial or complete paralysis resulting from excessive force, improper restraint techniques, or violence during police interactions.
• Broken Bones and Fractures: Our fracture injury lawyers assist clients with broken ribs, arms, wrists, and facial fractures caused by excessive physical force, improper takedowns, or unnecessary restraint methods.
• Gunshot Wounds: Our gunshot injury lawyers represent victims of unjustified police shootings, addressing both the immediate trauma and long-term complications including nerve damage, tissue loss, and permanent disability.
• Internal Bleeding: Our internal injury lawyers work with clients suffering from internal organ damage and hemorrhaging caused by blunt force trauma from batons, "less-lethal" projectiles, or physical assaults by officers.
• Taser Injuries: Our taser injury lawyers handle cases involving cardiac complications, burns, and neurological damage resulting from improper or excessive use of electronic control devices.
• Chemical Spray Exposure: Our chemical injury lawyers represent individuals who have experienced severe respiratory distress, corneal damage, and chemical burns from pepper spray, tear gas, and other chemical agents.
• Restraint Asphyxia: Our wrongful death lawyers pursue justice for families who have lost loved ones to positional asphyxia, often caused by improper restraint techniques like prone positioning with weight on the back or neck.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Our PTSD lawyers advocate for clients suffering from debilitating psychological trauma, nightmares, flashbacks, and anxiety disorders following violent or traumatic encounters with law enforcement.
• Emotional Distress: Our emotional distress lawyers handle cases involving anxiety, depression, and other psychological conditions stemming from humiliating, degrading, or traumatic police interactions.
• Wrongful Death: Our wrongful death lawyers provide compassionate representation to families whose loved ones have died due to excessive force, medical neglect in custody, or other forms of police misconduct.
• Custodial Injuries: Our custodial abuse lawyers represent detainees and prisoners who have suffered injuries while in police custody due to neglect, delayed medical care, or deliberate mistreatment.

Seeking Justice for Your Injuries

At Justin Palmer Law Group, our California civil rights lawyers understand both the physical and emotional toll these injuries can take on victims and their families. We work diligently to secure maximum compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages caused by police misconduct. Contact us today to discuss your case with a dedicated civil rights attorney who will fight for the justice you deserve.

Signs You Are a Victim of Police Misconduct

As California civil rights lawyers, we help individuals recognize when their constitutional rights have been violated by law enforcement. Understanding the signs of police misconduct is the first step toward seeking justice and accountability.

Common Indicators of Police Misconduct

• Unprovoked or Excessive Physical Force: Our excessive force lawyers regularly represent clients who were struck, tasered, pepper-sprayed, or subjected to pain compliance techniques without justification or far beyond what was necessary for the situation.
• Arrest Without Probable Cause: Our false arrest lawyers handle cases where individuals were detained despite officers lacking reasonable suspicion or probable cause that a crime was committed, often indicated by charges being quickly dropped or never filed.
• Failure to Read Miranda Rights: Our civil rights attorneys represent people whose statements were used against them after police failed to advise them of their right to remain silent and right to an attorney during custodial interrogation.
• Illegal Search and Seizure: Our Fourth Amendment lawyers assist clients whose homes, vehicles, or persons were searched without a warrant, consent, or applicable exception, often followed by attempts to justify the search after the fact.
• Racial or Identity-Based Profiling: Our discrimination lawyers fight for individuals targeted, stopped, or questioned based primarily on their race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity rather than evidence of criminal activity.
• Retaliatory Arrest: Our First Amendment lawyers protect individuals arrested after legally exercising constitutional rights such as recording police activity, refusing to answer questions, or participating in protests.
• Fabrication of Evidence: Our criminal defense attorneys represent people who discovered officers planted evidence, falsified reports, or misrepresented facts to justify their actions or support charges against them.
• Witness Intimidation: Our witness rights lawyers advocate for individuals threatened, harassed, or coerced by police to prevent them from reporting misconduct or to pressure them into providing false testimony.
• Denial of Medical Care: Our custodial rights lawyers handle cases where officers unreasonably delayed or denied necessary medical treatment to injured individuals in their custody, often worsening their condition.
• Verbal Abuse and Harassment: Our civil rights attorneys represent clients subjected to threatening language, racial slurs, homophobic comments, or other degrading treatment designed to humiliate or provoke a reaction.
• Confiscation or Destruction of Recording Devices: Our evidence suppression lawyers assist individuals whose phones or cameras were illegally seized or whose recordings were deleted after documenting police misconduct.
• Pattern of Misconduct: Our pattern and practice lawyers investigate departments with histories of similar violations, especially when internal affairs has repeatedly dismissed complaints against the same officers or unit.

The Civil Rights Legal Process For Police Misconduct Cases in California

As California civil rights lawyers, we guide clients through each stage of the complex legal journey when pursuing justice for police misconduct. Understanding this process helps you know what to expect when working with our firm to vindicate your constitutional rights.

Key Stages in Police Misconduct Cases

• Initial Consultation: Our civil rights attorneys conduct a thorough evaluation of your case, reviewing evidence, identifying potential claims, and explaining your legal options without charging any upfront fees.
• Evidence Preservation: Our investigative lawyers immediately work to secure video footage, witness statements, medical records, police reports, and other critical evidence before it can be altered, deleted, or otherwise compromised.
• Administrative Claims: Our government claims lawyers file the required notice of claim with the appropriate agency within California's strict six-month deadline, preserving your right to sue the municipality, county, or state entity involved.
• Internal Affairs Complaint: Our police accountability lawyers often file a formal complaint with the law enforcement agency's internal affairs division, creating an official record of the misconduct while a parallel investigation proceeds.
• Criminal Case Resolution: Our criminal defense attorneys work to resolve any pending criminal charges against you before or alongside your civil rights case, as the outcome may significantly impact your civil claims.
• Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit: Our Section 1983 lawyers file a comprehensive complaint in federal court alleging violations of your constitutional rights, typically within the applicable statute of limitations of two years from the incident.
• State Law Claims: Our California litigation lawyers may include supplemental state law claims in your federal lawsuit or file a separate state court action for assault, battery, false imprisonment, negligence, or other applicable torts.
• Discovery Process: Our evidence collection lawyers use depositions, interrogatories, document requests, and subpoenas to uncover the full extent of the misconduct, department policies, officer histories, and other crucial information.
• Expert Witnesses: Our trial preparation lawyers consult with medical professionals, use-of-force experts, accident reconstructionists, and other specialists who can provide compelling testimony supporting your claims.
• Settlement Negotiations: Our negotiation lawyers engage in settlement discussions with government attorneys, often participating in court-ordered mediation to explore resolution without the risk and expense of trial.
• Trial Proceedings: Our courtroom litigation lawyers present your case to a judge or jury if settlement isn't possible, using compelling evidence, witness testimony, and legal arguments to prove civil rights violations occurred.
• Damages Determination: Our compensation lawyers advocate for maximum financial recovery covering medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and in some cases, punitive damages.
• Appeals Process: Our appellate attorneys handle any necessary appeals to higher courts when trial court rulings are unfavorable or when defendants appeal a verdict in your favor.
• Consent Decrees: Our institutional reform lawyers may negotiate court-enforceable agreements requiring policy changes and oversight of the law enforcement agency to prevent future violations.

Areas We Serve

As California civil rights lawyers, Justin Palmer Law Group proudly represents clients throughout Southern California who have experienced police misconduct and civil rights violations. Our attorneys are licensed to practice in all California state and federal courts, allowing us to serve communities where representation is most needed.

• Riverside County: Our Riverside County civil rights lawyers maintain a significant presence in this region, handling excessive force, false arrest, and other misconduct cases throughout the county's diverse communities and providing dedicated local representation.
• Indio: Our Indio police misconduct lawyers serve this growing desert community, addressing cases involving the Indio Police Department and Riverside County Sheriff's deputies operating in the area with particular attention to racial profiling concerns.
• Hemet: Our Hemet civil rights attorneys represent residents facing constitutional violations by local law enforcement, including excessive force incidents, unlawful searches, and violations of First Amendment rights during community protests.
• Palm Springs: Our Palm Springs police accountability lawyers assist both residents and visitors who experience civil rights violations in this tourist destination, where interactions between law enforcement and diverse populations require vigilant protection of constitutional rights.
• Coachella: Our Coachella civil rights lawyers advocate for this predominantly Latino community, addressing language barrier issues during police encounters and fighting discriminatory enforcement practices that disproportionately impact farm workers and immigrant families.
• Desert Hot Springs: Our Desert Hot Springs police misconduct attorneys handle cases involving a department with a documented history of use-of-force incidents, working to secure both individual justice and systemic reforms.
• Temecula: Our Temecula civil rights lawyers represent clients in this rapidly growing community, addressing increased tensions between expanding law enforcement presence and constitutional protections during traffic stops and public gatherings.
• Moreno Valley: Our Moreno Valley police misconduct attorneys work with residents in this diverse community who have experienced excessive force, racial profiling, or other violations by local police or sheriff's deputies serving the area.
• Los Angeles County: Our Los Angeles civil rights lawyers handle cases throughout the county involving LAPD, LA County Sheriff's Department, and numerous municipal police departments with established patterns of misconduct.
• San Bernardino County: Our San Bernardino police misconduct attorneys represent clients facing constitutional violations across this vast county, addressing both urban and rural law enforcement accountability challenges.
• Orange County: Our Orange County civil rights lawyers assist residents throughout this region who experience violations by local police departments or sheriff's deputies, with particular focus on protest rights and immigration-related encounters.
• Imperial County: Our Imperial County police misconduct lawyers serve this border region, addressing unique civil rights challenges, including immigration enforcement overreach and cross-jurisdictional accountability issues.

Detention Facilities We Regularly Visit

As California civil rights lawyers, Justin Palmer Law Group maintains an active presence at detention facilities throughout Southern California where we represent clients who have experienced civil rights violations. Our attorneys regularly visit these locations to conduct client meetings, investigate conditions, and monitor compliance with constitutional standards.

• Riverside County Jail (Robert Presley Detention Center): Our Riverside jail rights lawyers frequently visit this facility in downtown Riverside to meet with clients facing excessive force allegations, medical neglect claims, and conditions of confinement issues within the county's largest pretrial detention center.
• Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility: Our Banning prison rights attorneys regularly travel to this Riverside County facility to meet with inmates experiencing civil rights violations, including use of excessive force by correctional officers and denial of necessary medical care.
• John J. Benoit Detention Center: Our Indio jail misconduct lawyers maintain a consistent presence at this newer desert facility, addressing issues of overcrowding, inadequate mental health services, and alleged staff misconduct affecting detainees.
• Southwest Detention Center: Our Murrieta prisoner rights attorneys visit this Riverside County jail to document conditions and represent individuals alleging constitutional violations while in custody, with particular focus on excessive force incidents during booking and intake.
• California Rehabilitation Center (Norco): Our Norco prison civil rights lawyers regularly visit this state facility to address cases involving correctional officer misconduct, inadequate medical care, and unconstitutional conditions affecting incarcerated individuals.
• Calipatria State Prison: Our Imperial County prison rights attorneys travel to this maximum-security facility to document conditions and represent individuals facing serious civil rights violations, including excessive force allegations and claims of deliberate indifference to medical needs.
• Chuckawalla Valley State Prison: Our Blythe prisoner rights lawyers visit this remote desert facility to monitor conditions and represent incarcerated clients alleging civil rights violations during their confinement.
• Ironwood State Prison: Our Riverside County prison civil rights attorneys regularly visit this Blythe facility to address constitutional violations, particularly issues involving excessive force, religious freedom restrictions, and inadequate protection from harm.
• Men's Central Jail (Los Angeles): Our Los Angeles jail rights lawyers maintain a significant presence at this notoriously overcrowded facility where conditions have triggered numerous civil rights lawsuits over excessive force and inadequate mental health treatment.
• Twin Towers Correctional Facility: Our Los Angeles County detention attorneys visit this massive complex housing many pretrial detainees to document conditions and represent individuals alleging constitutional violations during custody.
• West Valley Detention Center: Our San Bernardino jail misconduct lawyers regularly travel to this facility to address civil rights concerns, including cases involving excessive force during intake procedures and denial of necessary medical care.
• Federal Metropolitan Detention Center (Los Angeles): Our federal detention civil rights attorneys visit this facility to represent individuals facing constitutional violations while in federal custody and awaiting trial or transfer to other facilities.

Committed to Protecting Rights Behind Bars

At Justin Palmer Law Group, our California civil rights lawyers understand that some of the most serious constitutional violations occur within detention facilities where public scrutiny is limited. Our regular presence at these locations allows us to monitor conditions, document evidence promptly, and provide effective representation to some of society's most vulnerable individuals. Contact us if you or a loved one has experienced civil rights violations while in custody at any detention facility.

Why Choose Justin Palmer Law Group?

Selecting the right California civil rights lawyer is a critical decision that can significantly impact the outcome of your case. Our firm offers:

• Dedicated Representation: We commit fully to each client's cause, providing personalized attention and responsive communication.
• Proven Results: Our record of successful outcomes in civil rights cases demonstrates our ability to navigate complex legal challenges effectively.
• Comprehensive Knowledge: Our deep understanding of both federal and California civil rights laws allows us to identify all potential claims and pursue the most promising legal strategies.
• Trial Readiness: While we explore all avenues for favorable settlement, we prepare every case as if it will proceed to trial, ensuring we remain in a position of strength throughout negotiations.
• Community Commitment: Beyond individual cases, we work to advance civil rights through education, advocacy, and policy initiatives throughout California.

Our approach combines legal proficiency with genuine compassion for those who have experienced civil rights violations. We recognize the courage it takes to stand up against discrimination and injustice, and we honor that courage with unwavering advocacy.

Stand Up For Your Rights

If you've experienced police misconduct or civil rights violations, don't face this challenge alone. Justin Palmer Law Group's California civil rights lawyers are ready to evaluate your case, explain your options, and fight for the justice you deserve. Your consultation is free, and we only get paid when you do. Contact us today to begin your path toward accountability and recovery.

FAQs

How soon after a police misconduct incident must I contact a California civil rights lawyer?

You should contact our firm as soon as possible after experiencing police misconduct. California has strict deadlines for filing government claims—typically six months from the incident—before you can pursue a lawsuit. Evidence like surveillance footage and witness memories may also degrade quickly, so immediate legal representation helps preserve crucial case elements.

What makes police misconduct a civil rights violation rather than just a personal injury case?

Police misconduct becomes a civil rights violation when officers acting under governmental authority deprive you of rights guaranteed by the Constitution or federal laws. While personal injury cases focus on negligence and harm, civil rights cases address fundamental constitutional violations like excessive force, false arrest, or discrimination based on protected characteristics.

Can I file a civil rights lawsuit if the officer claims qualified immunity?

Yes, you can still file a lawsuit even if the officer claims qualified immunity. Our civil rights lawyers have extensive experience challenging qualified immunity defenses by demonstrating that the officer violated clearly established constitutional rights that any reasonable officer would have known about, or by showing the officer's conduct was so egregious that immunity shouldn't apply.

If I was arrested and charged with a crime, can I still bring a police misconduct case?

Yes, you can still pursue a civil rights case even if you were arrested and charged. A criminal charge—or even a conviction—doesn't automatically negate your constitutional rights against excessive force, racial profiling, or other misconduct. However, the outcome of your criminal case may affect certain aspects of your civil rights claim, which is why coordinated legal representation is essential.

Will filing an internal affairs complaint help my civil rights case?

Filing an internal affairs complaint creates an official record of the incident and may produce valuable evidence for your civil case. However, internal investigations often favor officers, and the complaint process doesn't provide compensation for your injuries. Our firm can help you file this complaint while simultaneously preparing your civil lawsuit to ensure maximum effectiveness.

How are police misconduct cases typically proven in court?

Police misconduct cases are proven through evidence including body camera footage, surveillance video, medical records documenting injuries, witness testimony, police reports (often contradicted by other evidence), department policies showing violations, officer disciplinary records, and expert witness testimony about proper police procedures and use of force standards.

What if there's no video evidence of the police misconduct I experienced?

While video evidence is powerful, it's not required to win a civil rights case. Our lawyers regularly build successful cases using witness testimony, medical documentation of injuries, inconsistencies in police reports, patterns of officer misconduct, physical evidence from the scene, and expert testimony about proper police procedures. The absence of video does not mean you lack a viable case.

Can I bring a civil rights case against a private security guard?

Private security guards typically don't act "under color of law" as required for federal civil rights claims. However, our firm can still help you pursue other legal remedies such as assault, battery, false imprisonment, or negligence claims against both the individual guard and their employer when they exceed their authority or use excessive force.

What happens if the officer who violated my rights has been fired or criminally charged?

An officer being fired or criminally charged often strengthens your civil rights case by validating your claims of misconduct. However, your civil lawsuit will typically proceed independently from any criminal prosecution or departmental discipline. Your civil case seeks monetary compensation and potential policy changes, while criminal cases seek punishment of the officer.

How long do police misconduct cases typically take to resolve?

Police misconduct cases generally take between one to three years to resolve, depending on case complexity, evidence availability, whether the case settles or goes to trial, and court schedules. Simple cases with clear evidence may settle within a year, while complex cases against multiple defendants or involving serious injuries often take longer to reach resolution.

Will my case go to trial or settle out of court?

While most civil rights cases ultimately settle before trial, we prepare every case as if it will go before a jury. Government entities often initially resist settlement but become more willing to negotiate as evidence mounts and trial approaches. Our firm never pressures clients to accept inadequate settlements and stands ready to take strong cases to trial when necessary to achieve justice.

Can I afford to hire a California civil rights lawyer for my police misconduct case?

Yes, our firm handles police misconduct cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no upfront costs and we only collect legal fees if we successfully recover compensation for you. Additionally, federal civil rights laws include provisions for attorney's fees to be paid by the defendants when plaintiffs prevail, making quality legal representation accessible regardless of your financial situation.