BRENDON P. PARENTI Associate Attorney Mastagni Holstedt, APC When the Sonoma Civil Service Commission reinstated Juvenile Correctional Counselor II John Palmini on September 4, 2014, it was the end of a nearly year-long ordeal for Palmini, caused by a careless investigation based on wild theories and accusations by the Sonoma […]
SARAH BURDICK Associate Attorney Rains Lucia Stern, PC A neutral arbitrator has recently made an unprecedented award in an Oakland POA discipline case. The arbitrator awarded full back pay for a served five-day suspension, plus interest and attorneys’ fees, and fully overturned all sustained allegations in an appeal action against […]
SEAN D. HOWELL Senior Associate Attorney Mastagni Holstedt, APC Sergeant Michael Tassano of the Galt Police Department was reinstated and awarded back pay by the Galt City Council after an advisory arbitration award reversing Chief William Bowen’s decision to terminate the sergeant’s 11-year exemplary career. He returned to work on […]
MICHAEL D. SCHWARTZ, ESQ. Attorney Rains Lucia Stern, PC Digital audio recorders (DARs), dash cams, body-worn cameras and city cameras are currently, or in the near future will be, standard equipment for every peace officer in every jurisdiction. Conversely, cellphones with digital video cameras, digital handheld camcorders, and all forms […]
ALISON BERRY WILKINSON Principal Attorney Berry Wilkinson Law Group I share something in common with San Joaquin Sheriff’s Sergeant William “Billy” Mitchell: Our involvement in his termination appeal began with a simple and all-too-typical phone call. The phone call to me was made by the Legal Defense Fund, started with […]