Press Release Archive
2010
February 18, 2010 Oakland files injunction against violent street gang - see a map of the Safety Zone and read the lawsuit
January 28, 2010 City of Oakland sues fraudulent immigration consultants for ripping off families - read the lawsuit
January 11, 2010 Judge approves Lehman cash to clean up Oak Knoll - read the agreement and the judge's order
2009
December 11, 2009 Oakland to work with U.S. EPA on sewer repair
November 19, 2009 City of Oakland brokers deal with Lehman to abate dangerous conditions at Oak Knoll
November 17, 2009 Neighborhood Law Corps cleans up problem properties - read the Williams settlement & the Seminary settlement
October 8, 2009 City Attorney statement: $500,000 not enough to clean up Oak Knoll
October 2, 2009 Judge denies injunction of Oakland ordinance protecting reproductive rights
September 21, 2009 Oakland Deputy City Attorney named president-elect of National Bar Association
August 5, 2009 Federal judge upholds Oakland law protecting reproductive rights - read Judge Breyer's ruling upholding the bubble ordinance
July 2, 2009 Oakland reaches settlement with JPMorgan Chase on eviction lawsuit - read the settlement agreement
July 1, 2009 Deputy City Attorney elected president of South Asian Bar Association of Northern California
April 6, 2009 City of Oakland, state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control close down nuisance bar
March 23, 2009 Statement from the City Attorney's Office regarding police officers killed in the line of duty
March 11, 2009 Oakland sues major banks, local agents to stop illegal evictions at foreclosed properties
March 3, 2009 Oakland's tenant protection law upheld by appeals court - read the court's decision
February 27, 2009 Oakland city leaders to hold marriage equality press conference
February 10, 2009 Statement on Measure Y tentative ruling - read the ballot summary and the full text of Measure Y
February 4, 2009 Firing of "Riders" cops upheld by arbitrator - read the settlement agreement
January 15, 2009 Statement on the termination of police officers for false search warrant affidavits
2008
December 22, 2008 Oakland declares utility shut-offs in foreclosed, tenant-occupied buildings a significant threat to public health and safety - read the declaration
December 10, 2008 Oakland City Attorney, Oakland Housing Authority settle lawsuit over public housing conditions - read the settlement
November 19, 2008 City of Oakland joins lawsuit challenging Proposition 8 as unfair and unconstitutional - read the petition
September 29, 2008 City Attorney, DA partner to form Special Prosecution Team
August 28, 2008 Oakland sues bond insurance companies for defrauding taxpayers - read the lawsuit - En Español: La cuidad de Oakland demanda: Compañías de seguros en bonos defraudan a los contribuyentes
August 22, 2008 Statement on federal investigation at City Hall - read the Grand Jury subpoenas
July 18, 2008 Measure Y parcel tax collection validated by court
July 9, 2008 Oakland City Attorney, City Auditor propose City Hall reform package
June 24, 2008 Appeals court upholds Oakland police retention policy
June 19, 2008 Press statement on the state's decision to halt moth spraying
April 23, 2008 Oakland sues major financial firms for bid-rigging, conspiring to cheat taxpayers - read the lawsuit
April 8, 2008 Oakland sues real estate agent over wrongful evictions
March 4, 2008 City Council authorizes aggressive legal strategy to prevent state from spraying pesticide without proper review
February 27, 2008 City Attorney receives Legal Service Award for anti-discrimination work
2007
November 30, 2007 Statement from the City Attorney and the Chief of Police regarding appeal of Smith jury decision
November 27, 2007 City, tenants and landlords settle major challenge to Just Cause Ordinance
November 9, 2007 Oak-9th plaintiffs throw in the towel on eve of court review - read a history of motions in the case
October 18, 2007 New coalition takes on predatory lenders and Oakland's foreclosure crisis
October 1, 2007 U.S. Supreme Court: Oakland's anti-discrimination policy stands
September 24, 2007 Deputy City Attorney elected VP of National Bar Association
July 19, 2007 City continues legal battle on trash problem
July 17, 2007 City of Oakland prevails in court on trash issue
July 12, 2007 City of Oakland files complaint against Waste Management
May 24, 2007 California Supreme Court unanimously supports city in 'Riders' reinstatement battle
April 25, 2007 Judge: Police union can't block use of retirees
April 13, 2007 Oakland gets help from the state to tackle problem liquor stores - read the proposed legislation
February 15, 2007 City files complaint against Oakland Housing Authority for maintaining public nuisances - read the complaint
January 30, 2007 Oakland sues East Bay Municipal Utility District for role in McKillop Avenue slide - read the complaint
January 11, 2007 Oakland takes on negligent property owners: Broken heaters, rodent and cockroach infestations go unaddressed - read the complaint
2006
December 4, 2006 Oakland receives national award for Neighborhood Law Corps
October 31, 2006 City of Oakland goes to court to protect senior housing - read the complaint
October 12, 2006 City of Oakland sues negligent landlord: 13 properties in North and West Oakland blighted with inhumane housing conditions - read the lawsuit
October 9, 2006 Neighborhood Law Corps forces problem liquor store to improve
September 6, 2006 State
election law invalidates Oak to Ninth petition - read the opinion
and attachments
July 18, 2006 Neighborhood Law Corps closes two problem markets - Gold Market & Acapulco Market
June 21, 2006 Press statement on Instant Runoff Voting
June 16, 2006 Press statement on legal opinions for vote tally in Oakland mayor's race - read the legal opinion regarding definition of 'votes cast'
April 8, 2006 Neighbors celebrate end of drug terror with block party
March 28, 2006 Councilmember Reid & City Attorney Russo shut down nuisance liquor store in East Oakland
March 17, 2006 Neighborhood Law Corps town hall meeting to follow up on problem liquor stores
March 9, 2006 Neighborhood Law Corps negotiates 'Good Neighbor' agreement with West Oakland store
March 3, 2006 Appeals
Court upholds class action suit against lead paint makers
February 21, 2006 Neighborhood Law Corps hosts West Oakland town hall meeting on problem liquor stores
January 31, 2006 Office of the City Attorney begins Megan's Law office hours
2005
December 21, 2005 Oakland and Caltrans sign letter ending legal fight - read the Caltrans Letter of Understanding
December 14, 2005 Neighborhood Law Corps helps reform nuisance liquor store
November 11, 2005 Court hears city lawsuit against Caltrans
October 24, 2005 Neighborhood Law Corps forces drug dealing clan out of neighborhood
October 18, 2005 Neighborhood Law Corps grand prize winner for Helen Putnam Award for Excellence
October 17, 2005 Al's Market lawsuit put to rest - Judge rules in favor of the city
September 27, 2005 Tenants partner with city to fix slum housing
August 8, 2005 Oakland sues Caltrans to clean up blighted properties - read the complaint
April 21, 2005 Oakland leads Bay Area in legal battle to stop casino near wetlands
April 14, 2005 Neighborhood Law Corps forces slumlord to pay fines and improve housing for dozens of Oakland tenants
April 4, 2005 City Attorney cautions City Council on changes to Integrated Pest Management Policy
March 31, 2005 Legal victory saves City of Oakland $1.6 million in lawsuit over Y2K Payroll Mistakes
March 14, 2005 Chief Assistant City Attorney Barbara Parker appointed to state judicial council
March 10, 2005 Neighborhood Law Corps settles nuisance case in East Oakland
February 15, 2005 Oakland prevails on constitutionality of anti-discrimination policy
January 31, 2005 Oakland demands tougher controls on predatory lending following court decision
January 28, 2005 Neighborhood Law Corps honors committed citizens
2004
November 24, 2004 City of Oakland awarded $56,610 by Superior Court for vexatious landlord's failure to comply
November 10, 2004 City Attorney's Office wins awards for diversity and outstanding publication
November 4, 2004 Oakland's landmark anti-predatory lending ordinance goes before California Supreme Court
September 30, 2004 City Attorney Russo, Supervisor
Carson and firefighters urge voter support of Proposition 1A to protect local taxpayer funds
September 17, 2004 City Attorney Russo receives "Champion of Democracy" award at League of California Cities convention
June 30, 2004 U.S. District Court dismisses lawsuit, upholds city's right to protect employees from discrimination
March 22, 2004 City of Oakland defends constitutionality of anti-discrimination policy
March 4, 2004 City Attorney John Russo named "California Lawyer of the Year"
January 14, 2004 Office of the City Attorney receives "Law Firm Distinguished Service Award"
2003
December 4, 2003 Consumer coalition speaks out against auto insurance discrimination
November 20, 2003 City Attorney Russo wins prestigious "Beacon Award" for open government
November 10, 2003 Oakland negotiates unprecedented agreement with one of nation's largest railroads: Union Pacific partners with Oakland to clean up trash on tracks - read the Memorandum of Understanding with Union Pacific
September 18, 2003 City
of Oakland wins landmark case: Court Of Appeals upholds anti-predatory
lending ordinance
September 23, 2003 City of Oakland files suit against owner of blighted drug house
March 31, 2003 Oakland City Attorney renews promise to punish hate crimes
March 21, 2003 Oakland thwarts attempt by out-of-town corporations to avoid taxes: Legal victory protects city coffers during ongoing fiscal crisis
February 19, 2003 City of Oakland settles 'Riders' civil rights suits
2002
October 2, 2002 League of CA Cities elects City Attorney John Russo as President of the Board of Directors
July 29, 2002 Oakland's Neighborhood Law Corps teams with community to mitigate liquor store nuisance
June 24, 2002 Court upholds Oakland's landmark predatory lending law
April 22, 2002 Officials demolish long-standing drug house In East Oakland
March 29, 2002 Seasoned public finance expert joins Oakland City Attorney's Office
March 11, 2002 Oakland to join San Francisco in energy conspiracy lawsuit
February 19, 2002 City Of Oakland settles first police case related to 'Riders'
February 11, 2002 City Attorney Russo launches Neighborhood Law Corps
January 15, 2002 City Of Oakland settles sexual assault case
2001
December 18, 2001 City Of Oakland settles significant police vehicle injury case
November 16, 2001 Court upholds Oakland's predatory lending law
October 30, 2001 Oakland City Attorney unveils campaign to punish hate crimes
October 24, 2001 Experienced land use specialist joins City Attorney team
September 19, 2001 City of Oakland prevails in drug and gang nuisance case
August 10, 2001 Top business lawyer joins Oakland City Attorney's Office
August 1, 2001 City Attorney Russo bolsters in-house litigation team
June 18, 2001 Anti-predatory lending campaign to help Oakland families safely buy and keep homes
May 21, 2001 Oakland joins state lawsuit against the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
May 14, 2001 City granted injunction to vacate substandard apartment
May 7, 2001 Oakland City Attorney releases results of management audit
April 3, 2001 Federal jury vindicates Oakland police officers in excessive force case
March 19, 2001 Press conference: "Zip code profiling" by auto insurance companies is discriminatory
March 15, 2001 Special District 6 election lesson in three E's: Electronic, Early, and Easy
February 27, 2001 City of Oakland settles last Collins sexual harassment case
January 25, 2001 City of Oakland teams with Oakland Unified School District to protect children using Megan's Law
January 22, 2001 Oakland and San Francisco join lead paint lawsuit: Top public lawyers to battle "preventable epidemic"
January 16, 2001 City of Oakland settles home invasion case in Alameda County Superior Court
January 5, 2001 City of Oakland hosts 2001 inauguration ceremony