Click on the box to make your selection.

CIVIL RIGHTS CASES

Los Angeles County : Valentin v. County of Los Angeles . Team Madrid represented client in the criminal case and put on an affirmative defense at the preliminary hearing. The case was dismissed at the preliminary hearing. A lawsuit was filed alleging violation of civil rights. The case was tried three times, appealed twice, remanded and retried over a span of 17 years. Team Madrid settled their portion of the case on the eve of the third trial. The co-plaintiffs proceeded to trial.

Los Angeles County : Client was arrested by local law enforcement while he was hospitalized at a county hospital. Client was transferred to a jail ward and during the course of his arrest, he was issued two booking numbers. Client went to court on one number and the case was dismissed. Client was then returned to jail and remained in jail for an additional 30 days until his criminal defense attorney learned that he was still in custody and made the appropriate motion for his release. Client kept telling the deputies that he had been released but to no avail. Team Madrid filed a lawsuit under 42 USC 1983 and other state causes of action. During jury selection, the case settled for 6 figures.

Orange County . Team Madrid handled a police abuse case where the officers beat up a client who had been pulled over for a DUI. The client was arrested and taken to jail. During the course of his booking, the client was taken and struck with a baton on his back and lower extremities several times. The officers denied that they had struck the plaintiff. Liability was disputed. The case settled successfully before trial.

Los Angeles County : A disabled client and her service dog were removed from a local mall. Client was told that because she was not blind and her dog was not an “eye seeing dog”, she had to leave the mall and if she did not leave, she would be arrested and her minor child taken away by social services. The security personnel attempted to interrogate the client about the nature and extent of her disability, which is unlawful. Team Madrid filed a federal lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The case settled. As part of the settlement, the defendants, a nationwide security company, agreed to train all their personnel with regard to the guidelines set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act.

San Bernardino County : A dispute had arisen between two neighbors, which prompted the presence of law enforcement. Law enforcement officers without a warrant wrongfully entered and removed the children of the household from the residence and detained them in their police cars. Team Madrid filed a lawsuit under 42 USC 1998 for violation of their civil rights. The case settled before trial.

San Bernardino County : Law enforcement officers pulled over driver and passengers. Client passenger was pulled out, detained and arrested on a warrant belonging to another person. Team Madrid filed a lawsuit alleging violation of 42 USC 1983. The case was tried in state court. The jury could not reach a verdict and was 8 to 4 in plaintiff's favor. A mistrial was declared and the case settled shortly thereafter with the assistance of a mediator.

Top ^

PERSONAL INJURY CASES

Riverside County : [Products Liability Case] Client sustained third degree burns to both hands and arms as a result of his upper extremities being caught in a plastic molding machine. The machine was manufactured in Canada . Team Madrid filed a products liability action against the manufacturer, supplier and employer. Team Madrid traveled to Toronto , Canada and took a series of depositions, which lead to establishing liability. The case settled in the 7 figures shortly thereafter.

Los Angeles County : [Premises Liability] Client sustained very serious back injuries while climbing a ladder attached to a building. As client reached the top of a one story building, the ladder became detached from the building and client fell backwards until he struck the ground sustaining serious injuries to his back. Liability was disputed. During the trial and before the jury was instructed, the case settled in the 6 figures.

Orange County : [Auto Accident] Client a minor [7 years old] was a passenger in a school bus. The bus was broadsided by a car. The minor child was ejected from the bus. The bus made an illegal left hand turn. Liability was initially disputed. The case settled in the 6 figures with the assistance of a mediator.

Imperial County : [Auto Accident] Client a minor [5 years old] was a passenger in a school bus. The bus driver failed to yield her right of way and drove onto oncoming traffic. The other driver broadsided the bus and the minor child was ejected from the vehicle. Initially, the child was believed to have suffered a subdural hemotoma. After the accident, the mother reported that the child was having cognitive difficulties. The defense disputed the nature and extent of the injuries claiming that the child's cognitive difficulties were attributed to the child being bilingual and having to translate from one language to another. Team Madrid argued that this contention was bigoted, nonsense and not supported medically, or otherwise and therefore had no merit. The case settled.

Los Angeles County : [Wrongful Death] Client and friends hired a local nude dancer to a private party at their residence. All parties got into the spa nude. A dispute arose as to what services the dancer had agreed to perform. An argument ensued and the dancer and her friend left the party. As Client and friend tried to stop the dancer by standing on the running boards of her pick up truck, the dancer sped away causing the client to fall underneath the rear tire to his death. The dancer fled the scene but was later arrested and found to be under the influence. No criminal charges were filed against her. Liability was vigorously disputed by all parties. Team Madrid filed a wrongful death action against the dancer and other parties. The case settled.

Top ^

CRIMINAL CASES 

Los Angeles County : [Murder] Client was wrongfully accused of a drive-by shooting. Team Madrid conducted an independent investigation with regard to all of the forensic evidence collected by law enforcement. Team Madrid put on an aggressive defense at the preliminary hearing. Team Madrid filed a Motion to Dismiss [P.C. § 995]. Motion was granted and case dismissed. Client was released forthwith.

Los Angeles County : [Burglary] Client had been drinking at a local bar all night. Upon leaving, he was assaulted and robbed. Client after having been beaten and intoxicated started walking home from the bar. As he made his way home, he walked into the wrong house assuming it was his own home. The resident wrestled him down and called the police. The police arrested him for burglary. Client was being held in custody due to inability to make bail. Team Madrid negotiated a misdemeanor plea and secured forthwith release of the client.

Los Angeles County : [ Car Jacking/Attempted Murder] Client and friends [alleged gangbangers] were arrested for car jacking, attempted murder and host of other felonies. Team Madrid 's investigation revealed that the alleged victims falsified their reports to the police. According to the police reports, the defendants stopped a truck at gun point, removed the three occupants, duct-taped them, and left them on the side of the road. The defendants were found later stripping the truck, and were positively identified during a field show-up. One of the defendants was alleged to have wielded the firearm, and was found with stolen property in his pockets.

Team Madrid spearheaded the investigation and found a juvenile witness who revealed that there was no carjacking, but a hotel drug deal gone awry. The defendants obtained possession of the truck not by carjacking, but as a result of the drug deal. One of the alleged victims had checked into a local motel, a fact which would've been unknown to the defendants unless they were at the drug deal, not carjacking. This was verified by the driver's license and signature card the alleged victim provided when he checked into the motel. Team Madrid issued a subpoena duces tecum on the motel and shared this evidence with with co-counsel and the D.A.

As a result of this exculpatory evidence, the case was dismissed and all parties released forthwith.

Riverside County : [Domestic Violence] Wife suspected client of having an affair. As client was taking a shower, wife sprinkled hot chili pepper powder in his underwear. As client came out of the shower, dried himself and put on his underwear, he proceeded to jump up and down in pain. The chili pepper blistered his genatalia. Wife found it amusing and proceeded to laugh and make fun of client. Client then allegedly pulled wife's pants and panties down and bit her in the buttocks. Wife had Client arrested for domestic violence. Team Madrid made a motion to reduce bail, which was granted. Team Madrid then negotiated an infraction plea.

Los Angeles County : [Vandalism] Client was a picket participating in a union strike. Client was wrongfully accused of damaging a company vehicle. The strike had turned violent and the company brought in an out-of-state security force. There was a lot of animosity between the rank and file and management. The case was tried. The jury returned a not guilty verdict within 5 minutes after they were instructed.

San Bernardino County : [Attempted Kidnapping] Client allegedly tried to pick up two teenage boys near a school. The boys claimed that client had told them that their respective mothers had sent him to pick up the boys to take them home. The boys ran away and called the police. In the meantime, client was involved in an auto accident a block away. Team Madrid was able to convince the D.A. that there is no way Client could have communicated anything to the boys since client only spoke Spanish and the boys only spoke English. The kidnapping charges were dismissed and plaintiff plead to the traffic violations. Upon completion of the sentence for traffic offenses, client was released.

Top ^

OTHER SELECTED CASES 

San Bernardino County : (Rent Stabilization Commission) In two separate cases, the clients had purchased mobile homes from their respective sellers. The mobile home park filed an Application for a premium claiming that the purchase price of the mobile homes exceeded market value because the respective spaces of the homes were subject to rent control. In one instance, the mobile home park owner was seeking $35,000.00 premium on a $75,000.00 purchase and on the other $26,500 on a $62,500 purchase. The hearing was set before the Chino Rent Stabilization Commission. Team Madrid defended both of these cases and provided an aggressive and vigorous defense. The result was a denial of the premium.

San Bernardino County : Team Madrid has ventured into handling business, landlord/tenant, real estate and probate cases. Team Madrid has negotiated and drafted contracts for clients in business as well as represented clients in business litigation. Team Madrid has represented commercial clients in landlord/tenant proceedings primarily representing the landlords. Team Madrid has also handled real estate transactions involving both commercial and residential disputes. Team Madrid has also handled equine matters and represented horse owners, riders, buyers & sellers.

Top ^