Seyfarth Shaw's Pro Bono Work Highlighted in the Los Angeles Times, the Press-Enterprise and Black Voice News
"Moreno Valley Barbers Win Partial Settlement of Lawsuit Alleging Racial Profiling"

Seyfarth Shaw and its clients, a group of Moreno Valley barbers, were highlighted, along with co-counsel the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California, in the Los Angeles Times, the Press-Enterprise and Black Voice News on the partial settlement win of a lawsuit alleging racial profiling. The media coverage, posted on December 10 and 11, 2009, discussed how the defendants were accused of targeting black barbershops, conducting searches without a warrant and violating the barbers' civil rights. According to the articles, the settlement will require the state Board of Barbering and Cosmetology to adopt new rules against discrimination and limit joint inspections with local police.

The Los Angeles Times article included a quote from ACLU attorney Peter Bibring, who filed the case along with Seyfarth: "This is a big win for these barbers and the community. It stops what we believe is the recurrent practice of local law enforcement using state board inspectors to launch unjustifiable searches that skirt the Constitution. It also sends a message to the African American community in Moreno Valley that their gathering places are safe and won't be subject to these kinds of intrusions." The Press-Enterprise article also included a comment from Seyfarth's Rishi Puri, who worked on this case along with firm partner Stacy Shartin. According to Rishi, the case is the first to challenge how the state board works with local law enforcement.