Business Details
43 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Trusted Criminal Defense and Civil Rights Legal Representation in Pasadena
MBL has built a reputation as a leading legal firm specializing in civil rights litigation and criminal defense. With decades of collective experience, our team of attorneys combines aggressive advocacy with meticulous preparation to achieve favorable outcomes for clients facing complex legal challenges. Our practice spans federal and state courts, focusing on cases involving civil rights violations, criminal defense, appellate practice, and class action lawsuits.We prioritize client collaboration, ensuring personalized attention while leveraging our extensive trial expertise to secure dismissals, reduced sentences, and landmark settlements. Recognized for our dedication to justice, we have successfully litigated numerous high-profile cases that have shaped legal precedents and policy reforms.
Services
Criminal Defense
Civil Rights Litigation
Appellate Practice
Bail Hearings
Class Action Lawsuits
Pre-Trial Investigation
Sentencing Advocacy
Police Misconduct Claims
Jail Condition Litigation
Federal Criminal Defense
Details
- Year established: 1983
Highlights and features
- We have over 150 combined trials in federal and state courts.
- Our team includes nationally recognized civil rights litigation experts.
- We prioritize pre-trial strategies to dismiss charges before trial.
- We handle complex appellate cases up to the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Our firm has secured landmark settlements in class action lawsuits.
Services
Criminal Defense
MBL provides aggressive defense representation for federal and state criminal charges ranging from drug offenses to violent crimes. Our attorneys focus on pre-trial dismissals through evidence suppression and grand jury investigations while maintaining trial readiness. With over 150 combined trials, we secure favorable plea agreements or verdicts through strategic legal arguments and constitutional challenges.
Civil Rights Litigation
We represent clients in cases involving police misconduct, jail conditions, and constitutional rights violations. Our practice includes individual lawsuits and class actions addressing systemic discrimination, excessive force, and unlawful detention. We combine investigative rigor with policy expertise to achieve both monetary compensation and institutional reforms through landmark settlements and court rulings.
Appellate Practice
MBL handles appeals from initial trial through U.S. Supreme Court petitions. Our continuity of counsel ensures seamless transition from trial to appellate strategy. With over 40 Ninth Circuit arguments, we specialize in challenging sentencing guidelines, evidentiary rulings, and constitutional issues that have established important legal precedents in criminal and civil rights law.
Bail Hearings
We secure pre-trial release through strategic bail hearings that challenge prosecution evidence and demonstrate flight risk mitigation. Our attorneys use these proceedings to expose case weaknesses, often leading to charge dismissals. Success in these hearings frequently results in favorable plea agreements or complete case dismissals through early evidentiary challenges.
Class Action Lawsuits
Our firm specializes in complex class actions addressing systemic civil rights violations. We have secured landmark settlements in jail condition cases, immigration enforcement practices, and discriminatory housing policies. These cases combine monetary compensation with institutional reforms through policy changes and enhanced oversight mechanisms that prevent future violations.
People
Marilyn Bednarski
Partner
Criminal defense attorney since 1983 with experience in death penalty cases and federal public defense. Specializes in complex criminal litigation and appellate strategy.
Barry Litt
Partner
Federal criminal defense specialist with experience in appellate practice. Recognized for handling complex cases involving constitutional challenges and evidentiary disputes.
David McLane
Partner
Civil rights litigator focusing on police misconduct and jail condition cases. Combines trial expertise with policy advocacy to address systemic legal violations.
Lindsay Battles
Partner
Civil rights attorney specializing in police misconduct and wrongful conviction cases. Former ACLU intern with focus on institutional reform through class action litigation.
Kevin LaHue
Partner
Experienced litigator with focus on criminal defense and civil rights cases. Former law clerk recipient with expertise in complex legal arguments and trial strategy.
Questions
What should I do if a loved one has been arrested?
Contact MBL immediately. Our attorneys work quickly to secure bail and begin building a defense strategy using our extensive legal contacts.
Do you handle federal criminal cases?
Yes, we specialize in federal criminal defense with extensive experience in both trial and appellate courts across the United States.
What civil rights cases do you handle?
We litigate cases involving police misconduct, jail/prison conditions, excessive force, discrimination, and constitutional rights violations.
How are civil rights cases evaluated?
We assess cases based on evidence strength and severity of violations, prioritizing cases with significant impact and clear legal breaches.
Do you offer contingency fee arrangements?
Most civil rights cases are handled on contingency, though some require cost contributions depending on case complexity and client resources.
