Civil Rights Attorneys Minneapolis | Civil Rights Law Firm BNC

Civil Rights Attorney in Minneapolis Minnesota

Need a Minneapolis Civil Rights Attorney near you with decades of experience? When your constitutional rights have been violated, you need a law firm that understands how to stand up to government agencies, police departments, corporations, and powerful institutions. At John Burris, Nisenbaum & Curry, our attorneys are committed to protecting the rights of individuals and families throughout Minneapolis and across Minnesota.

Civil rights are fundamental protections guaranteed under the United States Constitution and federal law. Yet every year, people experience unlawful discrimination, police misconduct, wrongful arrests, excessive force, and violations of their constitutional freedoms. If you believe your rights have been violated, speaking with an experienced Minneapolis civil rights attorney may be one of the most important decisions you make. Contact our Minneapolis civil rights law firm today.

What Are Civil Rights?

Civil rights protect individuals from unfair treatment and unlawful actions by government entities, employers, law enforcement, and others. Some of the most recognized constitutional protections include:

  • Freedom of Speech
  • Freedom of Religion
  • Freedom of the Press
  • Equal Protection Under the Law
  • Protection Against Unlawful Search and Seizure
  • Protection Against Excessive Force and Police Misconduct
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 1963 Detroit Walk to Freedom - Civil Rights History

Our Minneapolis civil rights lawyers believe these protections apply to everyone, regardless of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, or background.

Experienced Minneapolis Civil Rights Lawyers

Our legal team has built a reputation for aggressively fighting for people whose rights have been violated. We understand that civil rights cases are not just legal disputes — they often involve trauma, reputational harm, emotional distress, physical injuries, and lasting damage to families and communities.

If you are searching for a:

  • Minneapolis civil rights attorney
  • Minneapolis police misconduct lawyer
  • Minneapolis excessive force attorney
  • Minneapolis constitutional rights lawyer
  • Minneapolis discrimination attorney
  • Minnesota civil rights law firm
  • Minneapolis wrongful arrest lawyer

Our attorneys are prepared to help investigate your claim and pursue justice on your behalf.

The Cases Our Civil Rights Law Firm In Minneapolis Handles

Our Minneapolis civil rights attorneys represent individuals in cases involving:

  • Police brutality and excessive force
  • Wrongful arrest and unlawful detention
  • Racial discrimination
  • First Amendment violations
  • Civil liberties violations
  • Jail and prison abuse
  • Government misconduct
  • Abuse of authority by public officials
  • Unconstitutional searches and seizures

We understand the serious impact these incidents can have on individuals and families throughout Minneapolis communities.

Why Clients Trust Our Minneapolis Civil Rights Law Firm

At BNC, civil rights litigation is more than just a practice area; it is a commitment to holding institutions accountable and protecting the constitutional rights of everyday people. Our attorneys have extensive experience handling complex and high-profile civil rights matters involving law enforcement misconduct and constitutional violations.

When you contact our Minneapolis civil rights law firm, we will listen carefully to your story, evaluate your legal options, and help determine the strongest path forward.

Speak With a Minneapolis Civil Rights Attorney Today

If your constitutional rights were violated in Minneapolis or anywhere in Minnesota, do not wait to seek legal guidance. Evidence can disappear quickly, and strict legal deadlines may apply.

Contact an experienced Minneapolis civil rights attorney at John Burris, Nisenbaum & Curry today to discuss your case and learn how we may be able to help protect your rights and pursue justice.

Request a Free Consultation

Civil Rights Attorney in Minneapolis Minnesota

Life can be challenging when you suffer from a disability. You should be able to go to work and earn an honest living without being subject to discrimination or being treated differently than other people you work with. Federal and state law protects disabled individuals from being subject to discrimination when they go to work. Unfortunately, not all employers respect this right. If your employer has discriminated against you or has allowed other employees to act in a discriminatory manner, our Minneapolis Minnesota ADA lawyers at Burris Nisenbaum Curry & Lacy can ensure your rights are upheld.
Learn More
Under the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution, everyone in the country is protected from cruel and unusual punishment regardless of their gender, age, or immigration status. In its simplest terms, cruel and unusual punishment is any government-imposed penalty that is barbaric, torturous, or much too severe for the offense that was committed. Minnesota law also includes a statute regarding cruel and unusual punishment that largely mirrors federal law. Below, our Minneapolis Minnesota cruel and unusual punishment lawyer outlines when this type of behavior may have occurred, and how you can make it right.
Learn More
At Burris Nisenbaum Curry & Lacy, our seasoned attorneys have seen far too many victims of hate crimes, and the devastating impacts these offenses leave on victims for years to come. Hate crimes are often associated with other offenses. For example, one person may assault another. Assault is always a criminal offense but when it is a result of bias, federal law requires increased sentencing for hate crimes.
Learn More
If you have been arrested, your home was searched, or any of your property was seized, it is important to know that you have rights. Although no one has an absolute right to privacy because law enforcement can perform legal searches and seizures, certain procedures must be followed when they conduct these searches. Our Minneapolis Minnesota violations of search and seizure lawyer at Burris Nisenbaum Curry & Lacy explains when a search is unlawful, and how that may help your criminal case, below.
Learn More
Police officers have a legal duty to serve and protect members of the public but they should never abuse their power while providing that protection. Still, all too often cases of police brutality, police misconduct, and even excessive and deadly force are heard in the news and in the courts. Unfortunately, police officers are not always held accountable for their actions under the law. If you have been hurt, our Minneapolis Minnesota police brutality lawyers at Burris Nisenbaum Curry & Lacy can help you file a civil claim to recover monetary compensation for your losses.
Learn More
Alt Text!

The civil rights you have as a United States citizen apply to many different aspects of life. If you are passed over for a promotion at work because of your race, that’s illegal. If your child isn’t given the same opportunities at school as other students, that’s also a potential violation. Other frequent civil rights violations we see include: landlords refusing to rent apartments to people of a certain race or religion, banks not lending money to minority-owned small businesses, or charging them higher interest rates than everyone else. There are many other examples, and our civil rights attorneys have successfully won a wide variety of cases.

When To Contact A Minneapolis Minnesota Civil Rights Attorney

Because civil rights violations often affect a large number of people, at times our victories have been ‘class action’ suits, in which we represent a group of people, usually against a business, government institution, or police department or law enforcement agency.

But we also represent individuals everyday people whose names have become synonymous with the fight for civil rights and social justice, such as: Rodney King, Oscar Grant and Theresa Sheehan.

Almost by definition, people harmed by civil rights violations are usually regular people without a lot of money or power. Sometimes they assume that because they don’t have a lot of money, they can’t hire a law firm like John Burris, Nisenbaum & Curry to take their case. But we often work on a ‘contingency’ basis, meaning we’re paid a percentage of the settlement or court order if we win, so that our client doesn’t need to pay us anything out of pocket. So if you’re a victim of a civil rights violation, you should consult with us, even if you don’t have money to pay us. We still may be able to help.

Civil rights cases aren’t always easy to win in court, because the burden of proof can be high. In many cases, the best option for our clients is to reach a settlement in which the defendant (the person or organization you’re suing) agrees to pay financial compensation to you, and commits to systemic change so that they don’t continue the illegal practices in question.

Call BNC Civil Rights Attorneys In Minneapolis Minnesota Now

Many people who come to us for help are concerned about possible future retaliation or discrimination against them if they come forward to defend their rights. This is often particularly true when the issue concerns powerful institutions like police departments, or their current employer who they fear will retaliate by firing them. At John Burris, Nisenbaum & Curry, we understand why our clients are worried about this possibility, but we also know how to protect you. It is illegal for employers to fire you because you are suing them, and it is also illegal to fire you because you’ve won (or lost) a legal measure against them. In that case, you can also win a wrongful termination decision against them in addition to the original civil rights lawsuit which prompted the termination.

In other words: don’t be intimidated away from fighting for your rights either because you don’t think you can afford a lawyer or because you are worried that taking your case to court will make your situation worse. Call BNC civil rights attorneys in Minneapolis Minnesota now.

If you choose John Burris, Nisenbaum & Curry as your civil rights attorneys, the partner best-suited to take your case will meet with you to talk about what happened in detail. Then, we will determine the best strategy to move forward. Often, this involves interviewing other people familiar with the circumstances and situation in question— in the legal world, these interviews are known as ‘depositions’ and can be introduced as evidence in court. Generally, the lawyer for the opposing side also has the right to take a deposition from you— in this situation, we will help you prepare and also be present at the interview so that the opposing attorneys don’t trick or take advantage of you.

Then, as the case proceeds and papers are filed with the court, BNC will generally be in contact with the other side. As discussed above, this is often when we reach a positive outcome for our clients, by building a strong enough case so that the other side realizes it’s in their best interest to settle rather than taking the lawsuit to court, where they are likely to lose. Settlement can include significant financial compensation for you, and just as importantly, can result in legally binding commitments to change discriminatory practices so that other peoples’ civil rights aren’t violated in the future like yours were.

If you or someone you know needs legal help, contact the BNC Law Firm today! And take a look at our other legal services.

How can we help?

    Subject*

    Please describe your issue

    Our Offices

    West Coast Office Airport Corporate Centre
    7677 Oakport Street, Suite 1120
    Oakland, CA 94621     Ph: (510) 839-5200
    Midwest Office
    1916 15th Ave S
    Minneapolis, MN 55404     Ph: 510-839-5200
    For press inquiries,
    please contact:
    Lee Houskeeper
    newsservice@aol.com     Ph: (415)654-9141

    Our Offices

    West Coast Office Airport Corporate Centre
    7677 Oakport Street, Suite 1120
    Oakland, CA 94621     Ph: (510) 839-5200
    Midwest Office
    1916 15th Ave S
    Minneapolis, MN 55404     Ph: 510-839-5200
    For press inquiries,
    please contact:
    Lee Houskeeper
    newsservice@aol.com     Ph: (415)654-9141
    Case Results

    Reginald Oliver v. City of Oakland

    Oakland Police keep fabricating evidence and lying about minorities to arrest and prosecute them for supposed “gang” crimes, in violation of a settlement that prohibits …

    Read More
    Named plaintiff Reginald Oliver claims the Oakland PD continues violating the Constitution, in defiance of the settlement in Delphine Allen e al. v. City of Oakland, USDC No. C-00-4599 TEH, also known as "The Riders" litigation. Read Full Course
    John Burris
    Jane Smith v. City of Oakland

    Racial profiling of Asian women by police officer resulting in a class action complaint for damages, declaratory and injunctive relief

    Read More
    Finding evidence about defendant's post-conviction parole violation unfairly prejudicial "since the jury could have construed that parole violation as character evidence in violation of Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b)" Read Full Course
    Rodney King
    Rodney King v. City of Los Angeles

    Rodney King has filed a petition for a writ of mandamus seeking to have Judge John G. Davies disqualified from presiding at the trial of …

    Read More
    Rodney King waited too long to file a malpractice suit against the first of 27 lawyers who represented him in connection with the infamous beating he suffered from Los Angeles police in 1991, this district’s Court of Appeal ruled yesterday. The ruling by Div. Two affirmed Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ann Kough’s grant of summary judgment to Steven Lerman. King earlier this year dismissed his appeal of Kough’s ruling in favor of two other lawyers sued in the case, Federico Sayre and John Burris. Read Full Course
    Explore all our cases
    FEATURED News & Updates

    Civil rights lawyer John Burris confronts police narratives

    Written by Janie Har, AP researcher Rhonda Shafner also contributed to this report. To read on AP News click here OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Before …

    Watch our video

    John Burris Video 2020

     Watch our video

    Colin Kaepernick Tribute Video

     Watch our video
    VIEW ALL NEWS