PASADENA, CA, October 9, 2025 – A coalition of civil rights law firms and nonprofit organizations has secured over $5.3 million in attorneys’ fees for their successful representation of C.B., a ten-year-old Black student subjected to repeated violent handcuffing, detentions, and removals at his middle school based upon his disabilities. C.B. is represented by David Clay Washington, Dan Stormer, and Brian Olney of Hadsell Stormer Renick & Dai LLP; Leah Kang and Lynn Martinez of Disability Rights California (DRC); Melinda Bird, Lindsay Appell, Munmeeth Soni, Robert Borrelle, and Stephen Peters (all formerly DRC); Claudia Center, Malhar Shah, and Francesca Simon of Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF); and Anna Rivera and Maronel Barajas of Barajas & Rivera APC.

The fee award, issued by Judge Jesus G. Bernal in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, follows over five years of litigation against Moreno Valley Unified School District (MVUSD) and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. The litigation obtained nearly $2 million in settlements for C.B., a permanent injunction mandating district-wide reforms, and a precedent-setting order enforcing the rights of disabled students under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

In his order, Judge Bernal recognized Plaintiff’s counsel for their “great skill” in litigating “significant legal issues of first impression,” and achieving “outstanding results, both monetary damages and injunctive relief.” The Court also awarded a multiplier in light of Plaintiff counsel’s exemplary skill, the difficulty of the case, and its public importance.

“This victory is a testament to the power of coalition building between public interest attorneys and nonprofits dedicated to equity in education and justice for children with disabilities,” said David Clay Washington, partner at Hadsell Stormer Renick & Dai LLP. “Our team’s expertise, resilience, and commitment achieved historic results for C.B. and children across California. The Court’s ruling recognizes the significance of our work.”

“Fee awards aren’t just about recovering attorneys’ fees –  they’re about sustaining the work of defending civil rights and holding institutions accountable,” said Anna Rivera, partner at Barajas & Rivera APC.

“We’re pleased that Judge Bernal recognized our great effort over the years and the extraordinary relief we achieved on behalf of our client and disabled students throughout the district,” said Claudia Center, DREDF Legal Director.

This five-year legal battle sends a clear message to schools throughout California: discriminatory policing of students with disabilities will not be tolerated, and schools must ensure safe, inclusive learning environments for all.

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Disability Rights California (DRC) is the agency designated under federal law to protect and advocate for the rights of Californians with disabilities. The mission of DRC is to defend, advance, and strengthen the rights and opportunities of people with disabilities. Learn more at https://www.disabilityrightsca.org.

Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)  is a leading national civil rights law and policy center directed by individuals with disabilities and parents who have children with disabilities. Found in 1979, DREDF works to advance the civil and human rights of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, training, education, and public policy and legislative development. Learn more at https://dredf.org/.

Hadsell Stormer Renick & Dai LLP is one of the largest and most successful civil rights firms in the United States. The firm specializes in plaintiff-side civil rights and labor-side employment issues. They pursue justice through individual and class action law suits, legal services, education, and community-based efforts. Learn more at https://www.hadsellstormer.com/.

Barajas & Rivera, APC is a plaintiff-side civil rights law firm focusing on disability access and special education. B&R believes in using the power of law to protect civil rights and advance justice. Learn more at www.barajasriveralaw.com.