Pittsburgh Civil Rights Lawyer

Attorneys for Civil Right Violation Cases in Pennsylvania

At Colianni & Leonard LLC, we represent victims who have been injured in all types of personal injury cases. We also serve clients who have experienced employment discrimination and workplace sexual harassment. While we are certainly proud to advocate for those who have been harmed by the actions or negligence of others, we believe that upholding the civil rights of Pennsylvania citizens is an equally important duty. If your civil rights have been violated by the police, another government agency, or a private party, we have the knowledge and skills to help you take action.

Identifying Civil Rights Violations in Allegheny County

Most people realize that violating a person's civil rights should not be tolerated and that such violations are actionable in a court of law. However, before you can know if your civil rights were violated, you must know what your civil rights are. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to provide a full, accurate listing of a person's civil rights because the numerous laws that address these rights are quite broad. In short, civil rights are a set of rights that are intended to protect a person from unfair treatment in a variety of settings, including but not limited to employment, education, housing, public accommodations, law enforcement, and the criminal court system.

While the Constitution of the United States provides citizens with certain rights, the Constitution primarily guarantees rights that cannot be violated by the government or its agents, including law enforcement agencies. Civil rights violations by private individuals or companies are addressed by a number of federal and state laws, including:

• The Civil Rights Act of 1964;
• The Fair Housing Act;
• The Americans with Disabilities Act; and
• The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.

Various landmark rulings by federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, also provide the basis for certain civil rights. If you have experienced violations of your civil rights by another person or a non-government entity, the team at Colianni & Leonard LLC will help you seek the justice you deserve.

Wexford Counsel Protecting Your Rights

In recent years, several high-profile cases have made national headlines over alleged violations of civil rights. An alarming number of these incidents were alleged to have been committed by law enforcement agencies, including local and state police departments, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

Attorney Vincent Colianni is an experienced civil rights litigation attorney who understands how even a single civil rights violation can destroy your life. He and his team are equipped to help you if you have been the victim of:

• Excessive force or police brutality: Using more force than is necessary during an arrest may be considered misconduct and entitle you to damages for the injuries you have suffered;
• False arrest and wrongful conviction: An honest mistake is not usually grounds for a civil rights case, but if law enforcement or prosecutors falsified evidence or conspired to convict you of a crime you did not commit, you may be entitled to compensation; and
• Violations of due process: The Constitution guarantees that you cannot be deprived of "life, liberty, or property without due process of law." If your right to due process has been compromised by an illegal search or seizure, your civil rights may have been violated.

Contact Us Today

To learn more about our firm and our approach to civil rights litigation, contact our office. Call 412-680-7877 for a free, no-obligation consultation today. We charge no upfront fees, and you only pay us if you collect compensation. Colianni & Leonard LLC serves clients throughout the Pittsburgh area.