We are proud to share that Brian Gearinger, founder of the Gearinger Law Group, has been named the 2025 Consumer Attorney of the Year by the Consumer Attorneys of California, which is the organization’s highest honor.
Brian, along with co-counsel Craig Peters of Altair Law, and Joseph S. May of the Law Office of Joseph May, received this recognition for their work in the significant civil rights case of Loggervale v. County of Alameda.
The case involved Aasylei Loggervale, a Black mother, and her two teenage daughters, who were wrongfully detained, handcuffed, and searched by Alameda County sheriff’s deputies in 2019 after they fell asleep in their car while parked in front of a Starbucks after an overnight drive. The family did not match the limited description of the burglary suspects the deputies were investigating. One of the deputies demanded that Aasylei present her identification. When she questioned why, the deputy forcibly removed her from the vehicle. At the same time, the deputy demanded that the two daughters be detained by the other deputy. All three women were handcuffed, and then placed in separate patrol cars while the deputies searched their purses and car without consent. After about an hour, they were released without any citation or charges.
Brian and the legal team filed suit under state and federal civil rights laws. After a four-day trial, a Federal District court jury returned a total verdict of $8.25 million, the largest civil rights award in history for a case that did not involve incarceration or significant physical injury. The verdict reflects an important shift in how communities understand the harm caused by systemic racism and sends a powerful message against race-based policing.
Brian’s selection as Consumer Attorney of the Year honors his outstanding trial work, his dedication to justice, and his commitment to protecting civil rights. We celebrate this exceptional achievement and the lasting impact this case will have on the pursuit of equality and accountability.
