Civil and Human Rights Litigation

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The United States Constitution guarantees certain inalienable rights. When these rights are violated by government officials or other authority figures, it takes experienced and courageous advocates to get justice and to send the message that future injustice will not be tolerated.

DiCello Levitt is recognized across the United States as a leader in civil rights and human rights litigation, taking on some of the most powerful institutions in the world on behalf of those who have suffered profound harm. We represent people who have faced discrimination, excessive use of force, sexual harassment and assault, human trafficking, mass atrocities, and other grave violations of human and constitutional rights. Our team has litigated—and won—some of the most significant civil and human rights cases in modern history, including a landmark $20.75 million jury verdict against BNP Paribas for financing genocide in Sudan—the first time a U.S. jury held a corporation liable for its role in supporting genocide—paving the way for tens of thousands of survivors to pursue billions of dollars more in recovery.

[The landmark verdict] could also set a precedent for the civil liability of global banks that do business with regimes accused of crimes against humanity.

Law360

The firm’s work spans both international human rights abuses and domestic civil rights violations, combining trial strength with a deep commitment to accountability. Among our many civil rights victories is Black v. Hicks, a case of extreme police misconduct in which we secured a $50 million jury verdict against the City of East Cleveland—one of the largest civil rights verdicts for a single person in American history. We also represent more than 100 women who allege they were sexually abused and trafficked by former fashion mogul Peter Nygard and his affiliated companies, including claims brought by two of his sons alleging rape and sex trafficking.

In recognition of DiCello Levitt’s outstanding work in high-stakes civil rights litigation, the firm was named the Civil Rights Law Firm of the Year in 2024 by ALM and The National Law Journal, and several of our attorneys were awarded Public Justice’s prestigious Trial Lawyer of the Year award in 2021 for their successful prosecution and trial in the Black v. Hicks trial.

This team represented an Ohio man… exposing one of the most graphic examples of department-wide police misconduct and corruption in the City of East Cleveland.

Public Justice

We are dedicated to achieving justice for those whose rights have been violated—and our attorneys have the experience and expertise to ensure that the powerful individuals, corporations, and governmental institutions who have violated those rights are held to account.

Representative Matters

Jane Does 1-57 v. Peter Nygard

DiCello Levitt represents victims of the largest individual international sex trafficking lawsuit in U.S. history, which alleges that Peter Nygard, the Nygard Companies, and his employees committed a decades-long conspiracy to rape, sexually assault, and traffic hundreds of women and girls. Due in large part to the efforts of DiCello Levitt, Peter Nygard has since been convicted in a criminal court of multiple sex crimes.

Jane Doe 1, et al. v. County of Los Angeles

In one of the most consequential resolutions of institutional abuse in U.S. history, DiCello Levitt attorneys played a key role in achieving a $4 billion settlement for approximately 6,800 survivors of sexual abuse in Los Angeles County juvenile detention centers and foster care facilities. This groundbreaking agreement delivered long-overdue justice and financial redress while driving meaningful reform within the county’s juvenile system. Founding Partner Mark DiCello and Partner Doug Rochen, working with a coalition of law firms, helped expose decades of systemic abuse and amplify the voices of thousands of survivors.

Marquetta Williams, et al. v. City of Canton, Ohio, et al.

DiCello Levitt represents the family of James Williams in a civil rights lawsuit alleging excessive force after a Canton police officer fatally shot the unarmed 46-year-old through a wooden fence without warning. In a significant appellate victory, the Sixth Circuit denied qualified immunity and held that a jury must decide whether the officer’s use of deadly force violated clearly established constitutional law, allowing the family’s claims to proceed to trial.

Foster v. Pickens County, et al.

DiCello Levitt represents the family of former NFL player Glenn Foster Jr. in a wrongful death lawsuit alleging that Pickens County law enforcement officers used excessive force and denied medical care while he was in custody. In a significant ruling, a federal court allowed the family’s claims to proceed, enabling them to pursue accountability for Foster’s death following alleged repeated use of force and failure to intervene.

Jada Walker, et al. v. City of Akron

DiCello Levitt represented the family of Jayland Walker in a civil rights lawsuit alleging excessive force and unconstitutional policing after eight Akron police officers fired 94 rounds during a 2022 traffic stop, killing the unarmed 25-year-old. The firm secured a $4.85 million settlement with the City of Akron and helped drive reforms to the city’s police vehicle pursuit policy following an ongoing review of law enforcement practices.

Keisha Acton, et al. v. Allister Adel, et al.

In one of the largest settlements ever paid by a prosecutor’s office for misconduct of this kind, DiCello Levitt secured a $6 million resolution on behalf of more than 20 peaceful protesters and a photojournalist who were wrongfully arrested and charged as members of a fabricated criminal street gang during 2020 public demonstrations in Phoenix. The civil rights lawsuit alleged that prosecutors pursued serious felony charges based on exaggerated and misrepresented evidence presented to a grand jury; all criminal charges against the plaintiffs were ultimately dismissed. The resolution included prosecutorial reform, including the disbandment of Maricopa County’s First Responder Bureau.

Sonya Williams v. City of Raleigh, et al.

DiCello Levitt secured a nearly $1 million settlement for the family of Darryl Tyree Williams, a 32-year-old man who died after Raleigh police officers repeatedly used a Taser on him, including while he was restrained on the ground. The lawsuit alleged that officers used unnecessary and excessive force and continued to shock Williams after he was no longer a threat, resulting in one of the largest known settlements by the City of Raleigh in a police use-of-force case.