Wins

For the second time in less than a year, GMSR partner Tim Coates was victorious in the United States Supreme Court, convincing the Court to unanimously reverse a judgment against GMSR client the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. In Los Angeles County Flood Control District v. Natural Resources Defense Council, 568 U.S. 78, 133 S. Ct. 710, 184 L. Ed. 2d 547 (2013), the Court held that the Ninth Circuit had erred in holding the District liable for violations of the Clean Water Act based solely on polluted water flowing through portions of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers maintained and improved by the District. The Court found that there could not be a “discharge” of pollutants under the Act based solely on water moving through improved portions of a river into other portions of the same river.

Less than a year ago, in Messerschmidt v. Millender, 565 U.S. 535, 132 S.Ct.1235 (2012), Tim successfully represented law enforcement officers in persuading the Court to find that the officers were immune from federal civil rights liability stemming from procuring and executing a facially valid search warrant.  Los Angeles County Flood Control is GMSR’s sixth victory in the United States Supreme Court in six years, with GMSR partner Kent Richland responsible for two of the cases.  Overall, the firm has been lead counsel in eight Supreme Court cases and has won seven. It is an unequaled record for any West Coast appellate practice.