Misconduct by police and other law enforcement officials
False arrests, excessive use of force, illegal searches, and abusive treatment of prisoners sometimes invades rights guaranteed by the United States and California constitutions. These rights include the right to be free from illegal searches and seizures, the right not to be deprived of liberty without due process of law, the right not be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment, and the right to equal protection under the law. An individual who is deprived of any of these constitutional rights by an agent of the local, state, or federal governments is entitled to damages for the injuries they have suffered, including damages for pain, suffering and emotional distress, as well as punitive damages and reasonable attorneys' fees.
California law prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of any protected class, such race, sex, etc. (for full list of protected classes, see employment discrimination and harassment.) California law also prohibits any business establishment from denying service to any person on the grounds that the person is a member of some protected class. In addition to damages and reasonable attorney's fees, special statutory penalties may apply.
NOTE: None of the information on this page should be taken as legal advice for any specific situations, nor can it substitute for consulting with an attorney.