The trial attorneys at Siegel, Yee, Brunner, and Mehta (SYBM) enjoyed a very successful 2022, winning outstanding verdicts and settlements for their clients. We look forward to continuing success in 2023 and beyond. SYBM urges people who have experienced violations of their rights on the job or at hands of police officers or other public officials to contact SYBM at (510) 839-1200 to discuss their claims with one of our experienced lawyers.

Here are just some of our victories during 2022:

In September, partner Sonya Z. Mehta won a $2.028 million dollar judgment in a trial against the Evergreen School District before federal judge Nathanael Cousins in San Jose. Sonya represented former Superintendent of Schools Katherine Gomez, who suffered wage discrimination as compared with previous male superintendents. Judge Cousinsa award included damages for lost pay, pension benefits, and emotional distress.

Sonya also won a substantial settlement against the Oakland Unified School District on behalf of whistle blower Cleveland McKinney, an assistant principal who complained of health and safety violations as well as discriminatory treatment of students at McClymonds High School.

In March, partner Dan Siegel and senior associate EmilyRose Johns secured a $950,000 settlement for Giuliana Mendiola in her gender bias and retaliation case against the University of California, Riverside. The University fired Ms. Mendiola from her job as an assistant coach of the womenas basketball team after she supported student athletes who complained about abusive treatment by the teamas head coach.

            Partner Jane Brunner won a $1.75 million confidential settlement in a racial bias case against a large corporate employer.

            In August, Dan Siegel settled attorney Kathleen Carroll’s whistleblower retaliation case against the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing for $3.3 million. Ms. Carroll was fired after she complained about the Commission’s failures to timely process complaints concerning misconduct by teachers and other administrative failures. Dan tried the case in 2016, leading to a $3.5 million judgment, which was overturned by the Court of Appeal.

            In October, EmilyRose Johns and associate Chan Kim won an extraordinary $504,000 jury verdict against the San Francisco Sheriffas Department in a trial before federal judge Susan Illston in San Francisco. Their client, Vincent Bell, was forced to hop on his one leg to an isolation cell with only a hole in the floor as a toilet at the San Francisco jail. Judge Illston also ordered the San Francisco Sheriff to change its policies regarding safety cell placements and cell extractions. This was an outstanding result for a prisoner who did not have medical expenses or other monetary claims. EmilyRose and Chan won a second jury trial for another San Francisco Jail prisoner in December.

            Dan Siegel and Jane Brunner won a $725,000 jury verdict in San Francisco Superior Court in April before Judge Curtis E.A. Karnow against the San Francisco Fire Department based on its repeated refusals to promote Larry Jacobs to a position as an arson investigator. The jury ruled that the Department retaliated against Mr. Jacobs for his complaints of racial discrimination.

            Dan Siegel was also a member of a large team of attorneys who successfully settled claims for the families of 33 of the 36 people who died in the infamous Ghost Ship fire in Oakland in December 2016. As a result of their efforts, the families received or will receive over $2.0 million each from Pacific Gas & Electric, the City of Oakland, and the owners of the property.

            In December the San Francisco federal court approved the class action settlement in a case brought by SYBM attorneys Siegel, Brunner, Mehta, Johns, and Kim and their colleague Walter Riley based upon the conduct of Oakland police officers in response to protests over the May 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The settlement prohibits the use of many anon-lethala weapons by Oakland police officers during peaceful protests, greatly restricts the use of tear gas and other chemical weapons, and requires the Oakland police to supervise officers sent to Oakland from other police agencies during street protests under mutual aid agreements to follow OPD policies on weapons and strategies. The settlement also provides compensation for 26 individuals injured by OPD during the protests.

            SYBM successfully resolved many other cases in 2022, protecting the rights of employees, union members, prisoners, victims of police abuse, and people experiencing homelessness. We look forward to assisting you in your efforts to win justice.

Saldivar v. City and County of San Francisco, $190,000 settlement for a person with disabilities who was violently assaulted by SFPD during a Police out of Pride demonstration.

De la Riva v. City of Oakland, $290,000 settlement for two Oakland residents whose boats, which were their homes, and all their belongings were destroyed by the City of Oakland and Sean Alexander Marine Services, Inc.

Mendiola v. University of California, Riverside, $950,000 settlement for assistant basketball coach fired for complaining about sexual harassment of female athletes.

Bell v. City and County of San Francisco, $504,000 jury verdict for a county jail prisoner who was brutalized by sheriff’s deputies.

Jacobs v. City and County of San Francisco, $725,000 jury verdict for firefighter denied promotions in retaliation for his complaints about racial discrimination.

Carroll v. State of California, $3.3 million settlement, following trial and reversal on appeal, for retaliation against staff attorney who exposed misconduct at the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

John Doe v. Oakland Unified School District, mid six figure settlement for terminated whistleblower.

Anonymous v. Corporation, $800,000 settlement for employee who complained about corporate misconduct.

Crain v. City of Oakland, $268,000 settlement for employee fired in retaliation for her Equal Pay Act and gender discrimination complaints.

Riles v. City of Oakland, $360,000 settlement for a Black senior assaulted by Oakland police when he went to the Planning and Building Department to complain about continued harassment by Code Enforcement.

Xavier v. Contra Costa Community College District, reinstatement and back pay for unfairly terminated 17-year janitor, member of AFSCME District Council 57.