Eugene Hanrahan Delivers Successful Oral Argument in Federal Court

Los Angeles Partner Eugene Hanrahan successfully drafted and argued a motion to dismiss in federal court for our clients, a county District Attorney’s Office and an individual deputy district attorney. After a man suspected of attempting to kidnap a young female jogger in a park was arrested, he was prosecuted for the offense by our clients, and the Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at his home. Our client later dismissed the case after the jogger excluded the man as the suspect in a photo lineup. A few years later, a trial court granted the man a motion declaring him factually innocent of the crime for which he was arrested. 

The man subsequently filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against our clients and the Sheriff’s Department. His suit alleged civil conspiracy under statutes 18 U.S.C. § 371 and 42 U.S.C. § 1985 (2) and (3), which prohibit conspiracy to commit offense or defraud the United States and conspiracy to interfere with civil rights, specifically, obstructing justice; intimidating a party, witness or juror; and depriving persons of equal protection. It also alleged civil RICO, or racketeering activity, under statute 18 U.S.C. § 1961. After presenting a compelling oral argument, Mr. Hanrahan secured a motion to dismiss all counts with prejudice. 

Eugene Hanrahan is a member of the Governmental Entity Liability team. His practice specializes in defending law enforcement agencies from civil rights lawsuits. Prior to joining Manning Kass, he was a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of California, as well as a Deputy District Attorney in Los Angeles County for 21 years. During this time, Mr. Hanrahan successfully tried dozens of cases to verdict, including murder, domestic and sexual violence, and major fraud.