» Notable Cases

Notable Cases

Copies of lawsuits, court documents, background information & updates about major legal cases involving the City of Oakland.

North Oakland Gang Injunction

North Oakland Gang Injunction

North Oakland Anti-Gang Injunction

Oakland uses a new tool in fight against violent criminal enterprise. read more

Immigration Fraud

Immigration fraud

Cracking down on immigration fraud

Oakland's Neighborhood Law Corps sues local company for ripping off immigrant families. watch video

Oak Knoll

Oak Knoll

Cleaning up Oak Knoll

After months of community pressure and legal wrangling, a deal to secure $3.7 million from failed Wall Street giant Lehman to abate health and fire hazards at the former Oak Knoll Naval base was approved by a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge in Santa Ana. read more


Illegal Evictions

City sues to stop wrongful evictions

On March 12, 2009, City Attorney John Russo announced five lawsuits against major banks and local agents responsible for numerous illegal evictions and abuse of tenants' rights in Oakland. read more

Central Reservoir Landslide

leaks in central reservoir

Lawsuit against EBMUD

More than a year after Oakland sued the East Bay Municipal Utility District, the agency has yet to take responsibility for leaks in its Central Reservoir or the damage to homes and streets caused by landslides in the area. Citing national security, EBMUD has refused to disclose information. read more

Plastic Bag Ban

plastic bag ban

Plastic bag ban in court

Californians use 19 billion single-use plastic bags a year, and throw away an estimated 600 per second. The Oakland City Council passed an ordinance banning plastic bags in retail stores with annual profits of more than $2 million, but in April 2008 a judge sided with an industry lawsuit against the law. read more

OHA Lawsuit

OHA

Cleaning up OHA housing

In February 2007, the City of Oakland sued the Oakland Housing Authority, one of the city's largest landlords, after years of complaints about unsafe living conditions, code violations and an absence of basic maintenance or repairs at OHA properties. read more

Antitrust & Fraud Lawsuits

anti trust/fraud lawsuits

Banks & bond insurers gouged taxpayers

In 2008, Oakland filed antitrust and fraud lawsuits against some of the nation's most powerful financial institutions. The first lawsuit accuses companies such as Bank of America and Bear Stearns of conspiring to gouge taxpayers through illegal price fixing. read more

'Riders' Settlement

riders settlement

Police Department reform

The settlement that ended the 'Riders' police misconduct case in 2003 was designed to bring a high level of accountability and oversight to the Oakland Police Department. read more