MoFo Secures Historic Settlement in Athwal et al. v. Stanislaus County et al. 

Morrison Foerster helped secure a $22.5 million settlement for its clients in Athwal et al v. Stanislaus County et al. This is the largest civil rights settlement in the history of the Eastern District of California. 

MoFo represented two former California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers, Walter Wells and Scott McFarlane, and Turlock business owners and brothers, Baljit Athwal and Daljit Atwal. These individuals, along with 4 others, were arrested for their alleged involvement in a murder and conspiracy to commit murder.  Officer Wells and the Athwal brothers, and prominent criminal defense attorney, Frank Carson, were incarcerated during a preliminary hearing that lasted more than a year. Before the preliminary hearing ended—after Officer Wells sat in jail for 16 months—the prosecutor advised the Court that it would not be pursuing the murder charge against Officer Wells. The Athwal brothers and Frank Carson were ultimately tried for murder and conspiracy. After a trial that lasted more than a year, they were found not guilty of all charges, and the other charges were later dropped against CHP Officers Wells and McFarlane.  

The settlement was finalized one day before the civil trial was set to begin. The Athwal brothers and Mr. McFarlane will each receive $1.85 million, Mr. Wells will receive $3.5 million, and Morrison Foerster will receive $1.45 million in fees. 

Arturo Gonzalez, the lead trial partner from Morrison Foerster, stated, "This case is a tragedy. Walter Wells and Scott McFarlane were good cops who patrolled throughout the Central Valley for years. It is a shame that their badges were taken from them based on these criminal charges. They and their families deserve better."