City Attorney

Information on Federal Immigration Enforcement FAQ 3/31/2026

City demolishes two blighted North Long Beach buildings 3/31/2026

The City of Long Beach recently demolished two long‑blighted structures in North Long Beach, an action supported through the Long Beach Advancing Safety and Enforcing Responsibility (LASER) program—a joint initiative of the City Attorney and City Prosecutor.

City Attorney Highlights Early Success of LASER Program in Protecting Neighborhood Safety 12/23/2025

The Long Beach City Attorney’s Office is highlighting strong early results from the LASER Task Force—Legal Action for Safety and Enforcement Response, a joint initiative between the City Attorney and City Prosecutor that is already delivering gains in public safety and neighborhood livability.

Rescue of Sex Crimes Victim in Long Beach on November 26, 2025 12/17/2025

On December 6, 2025, the LB Press Telegram published an article about the arrest of a Wilmington man accused of trafficking a 15-year-old girl for sexual purposes from Temecula to Los Angeles County. The article reported that the victim was found safely three days later in Long Beach.

Long Beach Harbor Commission Approves Cooperative Agreement with South Coast Air Quality Management District for Cleaner Air and Healthier Communities 12/4/2025

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners voted unanimously to approve an agreement among the Port of Long Beach.

Judge grants City’s demurrer in lawsuit seeking tighter enforcement of Long Beach Airport noise rules 11/25/2025

On September 30, 2025, Judge Michael P. Vicencia sustained the City’s demurrer to the lawsuit brought by the Small Aircraft Noise Reduction Group (SANeR).

California Federal Judge approved $537.5 million class settlement 11/30/2022

A California federal judge has granted final approval of a $537.5 million class settlement that the City of Long Beach and other city, county and state governments throughout the country reached with Bayer AG's Monsanto Company and its subsidiaries to resolve allegations that the localities face increased costs due to Monsanto's contamination of waterways and harbors with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) over the last several decades.

Civil Enforcement Actions To Be Filed Against Several Long Beach Candidates for Violations of the Long Beach Campaign Reform Act 5/12/2022

Civil Enforcement Actions To Be Filed Against Several Long Beach Candidates for Violations of the Long Beach Campaign Reform Act.

City of Long Beach Expected to Receive Settlement in Class Action Lawsuit with Monsanto Company 3/18/2022

Long Beach, CA – A California federal judge has granted preliminary approval for a $550 million class settlement that the City of Long Beach and other city, countyand state governments reached with Bayer AG's Monsanto Company and subsidiaries of Pfizer and Eastman Chemical to resolve allegations that the localities continue to face increased costs due to Monsanto's contamination with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) over the last several decades.

Timothy O’Hara v. City of Long Beach, California Court of Appeal, Case No.: B284433, judgment in Favor of City of Long Beach 3/6/2019

On March 1, 2019, the California Court of Appeal reversed a jury’s verdict that would have awarded former Long Beach Police Sergeant Timothy O’Hara over $1.6 Million, based on O’Hara’s claim that former Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell disciplined him because he was a whistle blower.

Significant Step Forward for the Belmont Beach and Aquatics Center 7/24/2018

On July 17, 2018, the Honorable James C. Chalfant, Judge of the Superior Court, presiding over a trial regarding the Belmont Beach and Aquatics Center (Project), issued a ruling in favor of the City and determined that the Project approvals did not violate the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and that the City Council had properly granted the height variance for the proposed pool project.

California State Bar Names Assistant City Attorney Michael J. Mais 2017 Ronald M. George Public Lawyer of the Year 7/18/2018

The California State Bar’s Public Law Section has selected City of Long Beach’s Assistant City Attorney, Michael J. Mais, as the 2017 Ronald M. George Public Lawyer of the Year, in recognition of Mr. Mais’ exceptional work as an attorney and his 33 years of public service. 

Angeles, et al. vs City of Long Beach 7/16/2018

On July 13, 2018, a Long Beach jury rejected a claim by two sisters claiming serious injuries following an automobile accident with a Long Beach Police Officer, responding to an emergency.

Estate of Feras Morad, et al., vs. City of Long Beach, et al. 7/13/2018

On July 12, 2018, a Federal jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of the City of Long Beach and Long Beach Police Officer Matthew Hernandez, rejecting wrongful death claims of excessive force and negligence brought by the parents of Feras Morad.

E.H., a minor by and through guardian ad litem, Alma Ruiz, et al. v. City of Long Beach 6/25/2018

On June 21, 2018, a Federal Judge rejected a claim by the parents of a man shot and killed by a Long Beach Police Officer, and entered judgment in favor of the City and its officer.

4332-4336 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807 5/8/2018

The City of Long Beach reached an amicable settlement agreement with Khien C. Ngo, property owner of Alsace Lorraine, to resolve all liens, associated charges, penalties and interest resulting from twenty-five (25) administrative citations issued by the City to Mr. Ngo for renting the premises to an unlicensed medical marijuana dispensary in violation of the Long Beach Municipal Code.

Long Beach Reaches $13 Million Interstate 405 Settlement 11/2/2017

The City of Long Beach has reached a $13 million settlement agreement with Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for various corridor safety and traffic mitigation improvements related to the Interstate 405 (I-405) Freeway improvement project in Orange County.

Cunningham v. City of Long Beach 7/26/2017

On July 25, 2017, the California Court of Appeal upheld a lower court’s denial of a Petition for Writ of Mandate challenging the City Manager’s decision to terminate Special Services Officer Charles Cunningham for disclosing confidential information, sensitive security information, and dishonesty.

Dieanna Hollie v. City of Long Beach 5/24/2017

On May 23, 2017, a Superior Court judge rejected a claim by a parking enforcement officer that her termination from the City of Long Beach was motivated by her race. 

Legal Alert: Recent Supreme Court decision on electronic communications concerning public business sent to or from private devices 3/6/2017

On March 2, 2017, the Supreme Court Decision held that communications of public officials on private devices or accounts are subject to the California Public Records Act (CPRA).

Karl Kuhn vs. City of Long Beach 2/6/2017

Today, Long Beach City Attorney, Charles Parkin, announced that on February 1, 2017, a Long Beach Superior Court Judge entered judgment in favor of the City of Long Beach in a case involving allegations that a dangerous condition of a public street caused a motor vehicle accident that resulted in serious bodily injury to the operator of a motorcycle.

City of Long Beach, Long Beach TAPS Reach Settlement Agreement to Fund Downtown, Alamitos Beach Parking Studies 11/22/2016

The City of Long Beach has reached a settlement with Long Beach Transportation And Parking Solutions (TAPS) to resolve three environmental lawsuits by funding parking studies in the Downtown and Alamitos Beach areas.

Catrina Hanna v. City of Long Beach 11/3/2016

On November 1, 2016, a Los Angeles County jury rejected a $9 Million Dollar demand by a City librarian, who claimed the City discriminated and retaliated against her.

Gibbs v. Patrick West, City of Long Beach, Long Beach Civil Service Commission 10/20/2016

On October 18, 2016, a Los Angeles Superior Court denied a Petition for Writ of Mandate upholding the Long Beach Civil Service Commission’s decision which upheld the City Manager’s decision to terminate Officer John Gibbs due to his use of unreasonable force on a suspect.

FAA Legal Opinion Regarding Federal Inspection Station at Long Beach Airport 10/18/2016

In July 2015, the City Council requested the City Attorney to prepare a legal opinion as a companion document to a study to determine the feasibility of constructing and operating a Federal Inspection Facility at the Long Beach Municipal Airport.

FIS Feasibility Study Results 10/4/2016

In July 2015, the Long Beach City Council authorized a “feasibility study” to determine if it is appropriate to bring international air carrier and general aviation service to the Long Beach Airport (LGB).

Starbird v. City of Long Beach 9/29/2016

A Los Angeles County jury, after two days of deliberation, found that the Long Beach Police Department selected the most qualified applicant when it selected another police officer over the plaintiff, Wendy Starbird.

Court Issues Final Judgement in SCIG Case, Rejecting BNSF Objections and Ordering Port to Rescind Approvals 7/26/2016

After more than three years of litigation, Contra Costa Superior Court Judge Barry P. Goode issued his final opinion in the case challenging the Port of Los Angeles’s approval of BNSF Railway’s Southern California International Gateway (SCIG) project.

Appellate Court Upholds City's Medical Marijuana Ban 7/18/2016

On July 12, 2016, the Court of Appeal upheld a lower court’s order dismissing a class-action lawsuit brought by two Medical Marijuana dispensaries, challenging the City’s ordinance banning medical marijuana facilities within the City.

Long Beach City Attorney, Gomez Trial Attorneys, and Baron & Budd File Seventh PCB Lawsuit Against Monsanto for Contaminating the City’s Storm Water and Contributing to the Sedimentary Contamination in Adjacent Ocean Areas 5/19/2016

Today, the City of Long Beach, Gomez Trial Attorneys, Baron & Budd filed the seventh lawsuit of its kind against Monsanto for PCB contamination of Long Beach’s city storm water and the Port of Long Beach.

Court Dismissed a Lawsuit filed by the brother of a man who was fatally shot by Long Beach Police Officers 5/10/2016

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael P. Vicencia today dismissed a lawsuit filed by the brother of a man who was fatally shot by Long Beach police officers in August 2012.

Court Dismisses Lawsuits by Two Long Beach Police Officers Against the City of Long Beach 4/16/2016

A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge today dismissed the lawsuits of two Long Beach police officers who alleged that the police department carried on a campaign of retaliation against them.

Trial Court Sets Aside Approvals for BNSF’s Controversial SCIG Railyard A Victory for West Long Beach Residents 3/30/2016

On March 30, 2016, BNSF Railway’s Southern California International Gateway (SCIG) project was dealt a blow by Superior Court Judge Barry P. Goode.

Jeremy Coltharp, et al. v. Larry Herrera 2/23/2016

Today the 9th Circuit Appellate Court upheld a lower court’s ruling that the City Clerk acted properly and reasonably when he refused to certify a medical marijuana initiative.

SJK, LLC. v. City of Long Beach 2/11/2016

On August 12, 2014, Plaintiff, SJK, LLC, et al., filed an action in the Superior Court contending that the City’s ban on medical marijuana businesses was in violation of State law.

Craig Chapman v. Patrick West, City of Long Beach, Long Beach Civil Service Commission 2/9/2016

On February 9, 2016, a Los Angeles Superior Court denied a Petition for Writ of Mandate upholding the Long Beach Civil Service Commission’s decision, which upheld the City Manager’s decision to terminate Craig Chapman due to his egregious off-duty conduct involving assault with a deadly weapon.

Workers' Compensation Excels in State Audit 1/26/2016

In a recent report to the California Legislature on claims handling practices of Workers’ Compensation Administrators, the Department of Industrial Relations (Division of Workers’ Compensation Audit Unit) recently gave the City Attorney’s Workers’ Compensation Claims Division high marks for its handling of the City’s workers’ compensation claims.

City Successfully Defends PERB Charge 12/16/2015

During labor negotiations in 2014, between the City of Long Beach and the International Association of Machinists Union for a successor MOU, the IAM filed an Unfair Practice Charge with the Public Employment Relations Board.

William McDonald V. James McDonald, City of Long Beach, Long Beach Civil Service Commission 12/15/2015

On December 4, 2015, a Los Angeles Superior Court denied a Petition for Writ of Mandate upholding the Long Beach Civil Service Commission’s decision, which upheld the City Manager’s decision to suspend Lt. William McDonald for four days for engaging in unprofessional and disrespectful behavior with fellow officers while he was off duty.

Long Beach Airport Allocation of Supplemental Flight Slots 12/15/2015

The attached documents provide information regarding the allocation of additional Air Carrier Flight Slots at the Long Beach Airport.

Long Beach Firefighters' Association v. City of Long Beach 11/4/2015

On November 4, 2015, the City prevailed at an Arbitration hearing, wherein the Arbitrator denied a Fire Captain’s request for additional compensation/skill pay.

Calvete v. Patrick West, City of Long Beach, The Long Beach Civil Service Commission 11/4/2015

On October 16, 2015, a Los Angeles Superior Court denied a Petition for Writ of Mandate today upholding the Long Beach Civil Service Commission’s decision which upheld the City Manager’s decision to terminate Officer Ralph Calvete due to his dereliction of duty as a police officer.

Quincy Miles v. The City of Long Beach 10/30/2015

Yesterday, a Los Angeles County jury rejected a former Long Beach police officer’s claim that he was fired because of his race.

Massey v. City of Long Beach 10/21/2015

A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge today reversed a $700,000.00 jury verdict, finding there was no evidence to support Plaintiff’s claim of employment discrimination.