Impact Litigation and Social Justice Section
Office of the County Counsel

OVERVIEW

            The Impact Litigation and Social Justice Section of the Santa Clara County Counsel’s office brings litigation, drafts legislation and develops novel programs to ensure social and economic justice for county residents and to advance local, state and national public policy reform. 

            Our mission is to use the power and special perspective of local government to advance social justice.  We are looking for pro bono counsel to help us with several new impact litigation matters and model policy initiatives.  For more information, please contact Lead Deputy County Counsel Tamara Lange at tamara.lange@cco.sccgov.org.  

            The Section’s current cases include: 

• an action to hold lead paint manufacturers responsible for abatement of the public nuisance they created by marketing lead paint as a safe product;
• a lawsuit challenging California’s practice of terminating children’s Medi-Cal eligibility when they enter the juvenile justice system;
• an action against pharmaceutical companies for overcharging public hospitals; and
• an application for a writ of mandate requiring the Board of Equalization to tax “alcopops” – alcoholic drinks popular among young drinkers – at the higher rate applicable to spirits rather than the low rate applicable to beer, making it harder for minors to purchase the drinks; and
• amicus participation as proposed class members in a writ proceeding to bar across-the-board rate cuts for Medi-Cal payments to public providers.

To find a specific volunteer opportunity for this agency, go to the Probonomatch.org search page 
 and select the agency’s name.