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Recent Cases In The News

Some California Cities Criminalize Nuisance Code Violations

Ramona Morales, who turns 80 in May, technically has a criminal record. Her offense? One of her renters kept chickens…

She was fined $5,600 for a few chickens. Now she is suing to end ‘prosecution fees’ in Indio and Coachella.

Ramona Morales, 79, had no idea a few chickens could be so expensive. She also didn’t know that prosecutions could be so profitable…

They confessed to minor crimes. Then City Hall billed them $122K in ‘prosecution fees’

In Indio and Cochella, prosecutors take property owners to court for some of the smallest crimes, then bill them thousands and threaten to take their homes if they don’t pay.

Client was arrested for assaulting a police officer and causing injuries (a felony). Despite ultimately being offered an infraction, my client called the prosecutor’s bluff, and the case was dismissed once we announced ready for trial. Had he taken the infraction, he would ‘t be able to hold the SDPD accountable civilly. But now he can, and is.