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The law firm of
Lackie, Dammeier & McGill specializes in the representation of public safety
employees and their associations throughout California. The firm
currently represents over 100 California public safety associations in
labor, litigation and/or disciplinary matters. Most of the firm's
attorneys are former police officers or deputy sheriffs. It is with
these backgrounds and experience that we are able to provide the
representation today's police officers need and deserve in the following
areas;
Contract Negotiations
– The firm prides itself on the successful contracts obtained for our
clients and strives to ensure our clients are the leaders in salary and
benefits in the industry. The approach taken by the firm has resulted
in record level increases for the associations represented by Lackie, Dammeier & McGill and the police industry as a whole.
Discipline Representation
– As PORAC LDF panel attorneys, the firm vigorously defends officers and
protects their rights in disciplinary proceedings. Our track record in
this area is among the best in the state. Lackie, Dammeier & McGill has
successfully had officers reinstated who were told by their prior firm
they should resign. We take seriously the need to protect your
livelihood for you and your family.
Litigation – In aggressively representing officers and associations,
the need for experienced litigators is imperative. The firm’s
litigation section handles FLSA, Civil Rights (retaliation), Writs
(enforcing MOU’s), Injunctions (enforcing POBR) and other litigation
necessary in protecting the best interests of our client associations
and their members.
Lackie, Dammeier & McGill is
committed to breaking the mold of the old, tired, traditional law firm,
where attorney contact is minimal or by appointment only. We are
committed to promptly responding to telephone calls and correspondence,
even if that requires working at night to consult with officers on
graveyard. As a Legal Defense Fund panel firm, we are open 24 hours,
meaning that an attorney is available by telephone anytime of the day or
night. As former officers ourselves, we enjoy providing the level of
service necessary in today’s reality.
The founding partners of Lackie, Dammeier & McGill APC
were
Michael D. Lackie, a former deputy sheriff, and Dieter C. Dammeier, a former police officer. Michael D. Lackie (Mike) has been representing public sector employees for over fifteen years. Mike began his work in this field at the law offices of Silver, Goldwasser & Shaeffer where he represented law enforcement employees in disciplinary investigations and prepared civil actions on behalf of police employees and their associations, such as prosecuting writs of mandate, injunctions and civil rights lawsuits. In 1994, Mike joined the law firm of Castle & Krause continuing his representation of public employees. Dieter began representing public employees as a POA negotiator and advocacy representative in 1991. In 1996 Dieter joined Mike at Castle & Krause, expanding his experience with litigation and disciplinary matters involving public safety employees.
In 1997, Mike & Dieter decided to form their own firm to better serve the needs of law enforcement employees and their unions. They created a full service labor law firm, including representation for disciplinary actions as a
PORAC and LAPPL
Legal Defense Fund panel firm, specializing in civil litigation on behalf of associations and their members to enforce contract rights and rules, vindicate civil rights violations and related tort actions. The firm provides seminars on these topics and lectures on these issues at PORAC
sponsored seminars.
Most of the firm's attorneys are former police officers or deputy sheriffs. In addition to Mike and Dieter,
Julio Jaramillo, a former Santa Ana Police Officer, provides criminal defense to our police officer clients.
Steven Brock is a former lieutenant from the Los Angeles Police Department.
Andrew Dawson is a former California Highway Patrolman, John Bakhit is a former Oakland Police Officer
and John Pearson
is another former police officer. It is with these backgrounds that we are able to provide the representation today's police officers need and deserve.
Please call us anytime to discuss your
association's needs.
Meet The Attorneys
 Dieter
Dammeier is one of the founding partners of Lackie, Dammeier & McGill APC and
now Managing Partner of Lackie, Dammeier & McGill APC. Dieter began his law
enforcement career in 1989 as a police officer for the City of Cypress.
He left Cypress in 1991 to work for the Claremont Police Department.
While at Claremont he served on the POA Board of Directors and became
heavily involved in negotiations and officer representation. Working
full-time at Claremont, Dieter went part-time to college and then law
school. He graduated in 1996 from Western State University of Law in the
top 5% of his class. After becoming a fulltime attorney Dieter continued
to maintain his knowledge of police work while working as a Reserve
Deputy Sheriff for the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department.
While in law school Dieter completed an externship working at the Law
Offices of Castle & Krause, a police labor firm representing San Diego
area police unions. In 1997 Dieter joined Michael Lackie and formed
Lackie, Dammeier & McGill APC. He has practiced in all levels of state and
federal courts in California from representing a POA President in a
retaliation case before a federal jury to arguing public safety labor
issues before the California Supreme Court.
In the past decade,
Dieter has more published Appellate Court decisions in the field of
public safety labor law than most if not all of the other attorneys in
the State who practice in this field. He is co-author to the most
widely used resource on POBR; The Pocket Guide to the Public Safety
Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act.
In recent years, Dieter
has become the firm’s primary negotiator. He has since negotiated over
100 public safety contracts obtaining record salary and benefit
increases benefiting not only our clients but pushing the public safety
market further up, benefiting all public safety throughout the State.
 As
a
PORAC Panel Attorney, Dieter is also active in politics in the area
of police labor issues, traveling to Sacramento and Washington D.C. to
lobby legislators to improve police officer rights and assist in
drafting proposed legislation to address these issues. Dieter drafted SB
1516, which imposes a monetary penalty against police management for
violating an officer rights under the Public Safety Officers Procedural
Bill of Rights Act. Dieter has testified before the State Senate on
police labor legislation and was a panel advisor to the Speakers
Committee on Police Conduct.
 Saku E. Ethir, born Ithaca, New York, February 5, 1971; admitted to the California Bar, 1999; U.S. District Court, Central District, 1999.
Education: Cerritos College (A.A., Paralegal, 1994; California State University Long Beach (B.A., 1995)); Western State University College of Law (J.D., 1998).
Legal Experience: Lackie, Dammeier & McGill APC, 2001, Police Defense Firm,
Upland, California, Attorney; Handles arbitrations, administrative hearings, mediations, court appearances, depositions, Skelly hearings, and internal affairs interrogations, MICHAEL P. STONE, P.C., LAWYERS, 1999-2001, Police Defense Firm, Pasadena, California, Attorney; Handled caseload of approximately 60 cases; handled arbitrations, administrative hearings, mediations, court appearances, depositions, internal affairs interrogations, and Skelly hearings; Significant experience in Los Angeles Police Department (L.A.P.D.) disciplinary process; Gained significant familiarity with the L.A.P.D. Board of Rights Manual, the L.A.P.D. Policy and Procedure Manual, the Los Angeles City Charter and the Peace Officers Procedural Bill of Rights; Worked directly with L.A.P.D. Defense Representatives in investigation of and preparation of Rampart related cases for Boards of Rights; Participated in seven Rampart related Boards of Rights with "Not Guilty" Verdicts in all seven; Represented Rampart officers in internal affairs interrogations; research and motion writing. LONG BEACH CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE - Tort Litigation Division, Long Beach, California, 1999; Law Clerk; Assisted Senior Deputy City Attorney in preparing for civil trial in police litigation cases; prepared witness lists; exhibit lists, jury instructions, proposed verdicts, motions and trial notebooks; Conducted legal research for Senior Deputy; Responded to interrogatories and request for production of documents; Calendered and noticed depositions; Prepared police officers and other city employees for trial and depositions; Assisted Senior Deputy during depositions.
Saku Ethir is a member of the California State Bar. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Western State University College of Law; she is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the Orange County Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
Ms. Ethir is one of Lackie, Dammeier & McGill APC's police defense specialists, handling administrative cases from inception through the appeal process.
 Michael
began his legal career volunteering at both the Los Angeles County
District Attorney’s Office as well as the Ventura County District
Attorney’s Office. There, he researched, prepared, and argued motions,
as well as handled preliminary hearings. Michael later joined Lackie, Dammeier & McGill in 2004 and currently represents peace officers in all civil
litigation matters ranging from violations of the Public Safety Officer
Procedural Bill of Rights Act and the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act to the
First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. He has been successful in
obtaining significant benefits for peace officers and Associations
through litigation and trial. His work has resulted in several
published decisions, including
Florio v. City of Ontario,
130 Cal.App.4th 1462 (2005) (ruling that arbitration cost-sharing
provisions are unconstitutional) and Rialto Police Benefit
Association v. City of Rialto, __
Cal.Rptr.3d __, 2007 WL 2852202 (2007) (employer must meet and confer
with union over decision to contract out with county for services).
Michael’s success has strengthened the rights of all public employees
throughout the state.
Michael’s practice also
involves obtaining writs of mandamus against public entities for
violations of state law as well as disciplinary appeal cases. Michael
is experienced in all areas of the law involving peace officers, but has
had remarkable success in retaliation, whistleblower, and discrimination
lawsuits. His success in these areas has resulted in significant
monetary awards to his clients either through settlement or trial.
Michael’s most recent accomplishments netted his client a 1.4 million
dollar jury verdict for unlawful retaliation as well as a 1.5 million
dollar settlement for civil rights violations. His time is divided
equally in state and federal court, and is dedicated to protecting the
rights of peace officers under state and federal law, including the Fair
Employment and Housing Act, California Labor Code, California Government
Code, Fair Labor Standards Act, Uniformed Services Employment and
Reemployment Rights Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans
with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Act.
Michael graduated from
California Lutheran University in 1999 with a B.S. in Sports Medicine
and Athletic Training while earning the prestigious Everret Thoreson
Scholarship given to the University’s top student trainer. He later
graduated in 2003 from the University of La Verne College of Law.
Michael graduated cum laude, and at the top of his class, and received
American Jurisprudence Awards in Civil Procedure, Property, Contracts,
Evidence, Business Organizations, and Remedies. Michael received the
University of La Verne’s Merit Scholarship and was both a Staff Writer
and Staff Editor for the College of Law’s Journal of Juvenile Law. His
participation in moot court competition earned him an award as a
runner-up Best Oralist.
Michael was admitted to
the California Bar in 2004, and is also a member of the U.S. District
Courts for both the Central, Northern, and Eastern Districts of
California. Much of his practice involves appellate work in both the
California Courts of Appeal and the Ninth Circuit.
Michael was born in
Oxnard, California, the third of four children. Prior to commencing his
legal education, Michael’s first love was basketball, at which he earned
significant intercollegiate awards while completing his undergraduate
degree. Michael makes his home in Orange County with his wife.
You may contact Michael at
mcgill@policeattorney.com
 Andrew received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal
Justice from San Jose State University with a special major in Law
Enforcement. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine
University Law School.
Law Enforcement experience: California Highway Patrol,
Advanced P.O.S.T certificate, Advanced Accident Reconstruction Officer,
Drug recognition Expert, was appointed to be a Field Training Officer
while still on his first year probationary period, Physical Performance
Coordinator, Public Relations Officer and Court Officer. 15 Official
Commendations, 10851 V.C. (stolen recovery awards) and numerous special
assignments, such as the Special Intelligence Unit for the 1984
Olympics.
Licensed to practice law in California in 1992, he practiced
law at one of the largest Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice firms
in Southern California as a Senior Trial Attorney. He successfully
litigated cases against public entities with jury verdicts and
settlements in the multi-millions. (Emmenecker v. State of California,
4.05 million, Morhorko v. State of California 1.4 million) His practice
included wrongful death, product liability, medical malpractice and
personal injury cases. He conducted hundreds of arbitrations and
mediations.
While practicing law he has also been an instructor at the
college level for the last 14 years. He teaches courses in Evidence,
Criminal Law, Arrest, Search and Seizure 832 PC, Criminal Procedure,
Introduction to Criminal Justice and Victimology. He created and teaches
Principles of Law course.
At Lackie and Dammeier he is a senior litigator for the firm
and has successfully litigated wrongful termination cases and demotion
cases involving allegations of excessive force, dishonesty, sexual
harassment, misuse of property, Department policy violations and
criminal law matters. He has represented Officers involved in internal
affairs investigations and has attended over 1,000 internal affairs
interrogations. He has been successful in getting discipline suspensions
reduced or completely dropped in hundreds of cases for Officers. He has
obtained favorable rulings, including Officers being reinstated to their
positions after termination, from City Personnel Boards, Los Angeles
Civil Service Commission and the State Personnel Board.
 John
H. Bakhit began his law enforcement career in 1997 as a Police Officer
for the City of Oakland. He worked various assignments and areas of the
city during his tenure. John developed expertise in the area of
Narcotics and has testified as an Expert Witness in Superior Court.
Working full-time at Oakland PD, he attended Columbia College part-time.
John earned a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia College, where he graduated
magna cum laude in 2002.
John then attended
Santa Clara University School of Law in 2003 and graduated with a Juris
Doctor degree in 2006. While in law school, he was the recipient of the
Law Faculty Scholarship for three consecutive years. John was also
awarded with a Certificate for Excellence in Oral Advocacy. In his last
year of law school, he completed an internship working at the Santa
Clara County District Attorney’s Office. John was assigned to the Gang
Unit where he researched, prepared, and argued motions, as well as
prepared complex exhibits for a murder trial.
After graduating from law school, John joined Lackie, Dammeier & McGill APC. He handles police administrative disciplinary matters from
the initial interview through the appeals process, responds to
officer-involved shootings, conducts negotiations on behalf of
associations, and prepares Writs of Mandate for clients.
John was admitted to the California Bar in 2006 and is also a
member of the San Bernardino County Bar Association as well as the
American Bar Association.
John H. Bakhit can be reached at
John@policeattorney.com
 John
J. Pearson; Born 1968, Los Angeles, CA. Admitted to practice law in
California (1997) and Texas (2005). John graduated from Santa Clara
University, B.A. Latin American History (1990) and University of San
Francisco School of Law, J.D. (1996). John began representing Union
members in administrative matters in 1997 as a panel attorney for the
San Francisco based Local 2 Union. John is fluent in Spanish and has
travelled extensively throughout South America and Mexico. John is
married with two children and enjoys backpacking, camping and other
family vacations throughout the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California.
John’s prior law enforcement experience includes being a police officer
of the San Mateo Police Department, where he worked patrol and was a on
the Hostage Negotiations Team. John’s primary practice consists of
representation in Internal Affairs, Administrative Discipline, Critical
Incident Response and Writs of Mandate.
 Steven J. Brock brings a great deal of experience,
professionalism, and integrity to the Lackie, Dammeier & McGill team. Mr. Brock
is a former, seasoned, law enforcement veteran who served in a multitude
of uniformed and plain clothes assignments, and also held management and
supervisory positions in those assignments with the Los Angeles Police
Department before embarking on his legal career.
Mr. Brock has an extensive array of experience in employee
representation matters on both sides of the playing field, and has
served as an Employee Defense Representative and as an Associate
Advocate for Internal Affairs. Mr. Brock is a recognized expert and
certified instructor in many fields including the Leadership and Command
curriculum developed and taught at the United States Military Academy at
West Point. He has taught, analyzed, and developed programs for
personnel development and promotions, police tactical operations,
officer-involved shootings, and supervisory and leadership, and was on
numerous review boards and steering committees.
Mr. Brock has a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice, a Master of Arts degree in
Negotiations and Conflict Management, and a Juris Doctor law degree. He
is admitted and licensed to practice law in the State of California, the
United States District Court for the Central District of California, and
the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Mr. Brock is a
member of The State Bar of California, the State Bar’s Labor and
Employment Law Section, American Bar Association, Consumer Attorneys of
California, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, and Los
Angeles County Bar Association.
Prior to joining Lackie, Dammeier & McGill, Mr. Brock began his legal
career volunteering with the Legal Aid Society of Orange County, and
then from 2000-2007, he was a member of a prominent, AV-rated Los
Angeles area law firm specializing in public and private sector
employment law matters, with a focus on police, fire, and civilian
employees.
Mr. Brock continues to focus on public employee matters at
Lackie, Dammeier & McGill, and specializes in police employment issues at both
the administrative and civil litigation levels. Mr. Brock has a track
record of success and a no-nonsense approach. He has extensive
experience in internal affairs representation, administrative appeal
hearings, writs, and civil litigation, and handles these matters at the
local, state, federal, and appellate levels.
Mr. Brock represents peace officers in all civil litigation
matters including violations of the Public Safety Officer Procedural
Bill of Rights Act, the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, the First Amendment to
the U.S. Constitution, Fair Employment and Housing Act, California Labor
Code, California Government Code, Fair Labor Standards Act, Uniformed
Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, Age Discrimination in
Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights
Act. Most of Mr. Brock’s cases involve issues of retaliation,
discrimination, harassment, whistleblower, and wrongful termination.
Mr. Brock can be reached at
steve@policeattorney.com
 Julio
A. Jaramillo is a former police officer. He began his law enforcement
career in 1981 as a reserve police officer with the Santa Ana Police
Department. In 1982, he was hired as a sworn police officer. During
his 22 year career, he worked patrol and also as a detective in the gang
homicide unit and sexual assault unit, along with various other
assignments. Julio received his bachelor's degree from Chapman
University, in Orange. He attended Chapman University School of Law,
and earned his juris doctorate degree while working full-time as a
police officer. Upon graduating from law school in 2003, Julio left the
Santa Ana Police Department and began his career as an attorney. Julio
is admitted to the California Bar, and is also a member of the U.S.
District Court in the Central District of California.
Julio's experience is in the area of criminal law, having
worked as a criminal defense attorney in both public and private
practice. He has handled a wide range of criminal matters which include
numerous jury trials. Along with jury trial work, he has experience as
an attorney in drug court and felony preliminary hearings. He has
handled both misdemeanor and felony cases, including a felony matter
where the defendant was facing a sentence of life in prison.
He joined the law firm of Lackie and Dammeier in 2007. His
responsibilities include representing police officers in administrative
matters, including representation at internal affairs interviews, Skelly
hearings, and appeal hearings. Many of these administrative matters
involve officers facing substantial discipline including termination.
Julio also responds to officer involved shootings and represents the
officers involved in both the administrative interviews and also in the
criminal investigation interviews. Additionally, he handles most of the
firms criminal representation matters, which include the representation
of police officers in misdemeanor and felony cases. These criminal
matters involve cases both in the State Courts and also in Federal
Court. Recently, Julio won a "Not Guilty" verdict in a jury trial
involving a police officer who was charged with falsification of a
police report and destruction of evidence. Also, recently, after a
lengthy and complex investigation, he was successful in having a
six-count criminal complaint against a police officer dismissed. As a
result, the officer, who had been placed on administrative leave, and
was possibly facing termination from his employment, was returned to
full duty.
You may contact Julio at:
Julio@policeattorney.com
 Ms.
Khoury received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, magna cum laude,
from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland Ohio, and her Master’s
in Psychology from Antioch University. Her first career was dedicated
to helping individuals with disabilities. While helping others find the
meaning of life, Ms. Khoury stumbled on legal mandates, which elicited
her curiosity and helped her find her own true passion in life-being a
lawyer. Ms. Khoury attended Western State University College of Law, in
Fullerton, CA, and graduated in 2003, third of her class, receiving the
Salutatorian award. While in law school, Ms. Khoury volunteered her
time and implemented community outreach programs. She was appointed to
the Lieutenant Governor of Public Interest position, for the American
Bar Association/Law Student Division. She received a Certificate of
Appreciation from the ABA in 2002 for her work in the Community. An
International human rights activist, Ms. Khoury was cited in the Los
Angeles Times in December of 2002, for her speech on the human rights
violations in Iraq, by former dictator, Saddam Husein. Ms. Khoury
received the Witkin Award for Academic Excellence in Remedies, Death
Penalty, and Solving Legal Problems.
Ms. Khoury started her law career as an in-house counselor
for State Compensation Insurance Fund. She currently works in the
litigation department of Lackie, Dammeier & McGill. She handles State and
Federal civil rights litigation. She is admitted to practice in all the
Courts of the State of California, and in the United States District
Court, Central District, and in the United States Court of Appeals for
the Ninth Circuit.
An accomplished linguist, Ms. Khoury is well versed in at
least four languages. Her hobbies include traveling.
 Michael
Lackie is semi-retired but still works with the firm as "of counsel." In
this capacity, Lackie provides representation only to Riverside POA,
Riverside Sheriff's Management, Hemet PMA, and the California
Corrections Supervisors Organization.
Michael Lackie is a founding partner of Lackie, Dammeier & McGill APC in
Upland, CA. Also born in Upland in 1953, he graduated with honors from California State University, San Bernardino in 1973 with a BA in Political Science. Employed as Deputy Sheriff and Sheriff's Investigator for the Riverside County Sheriff's Department from 1973 to 1990. Graduated with honors from Southwestern University School of Law in 1993 and admitted to the California Bar the same year. Admitted in 1994 to the Federal District Courts and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal.
Labor Experience: Chief negotiator and labor rep, Riverside Sheriff's Association, 1979 to 1987; labor representative, Silver, Shaeffer, Goldwasser & Hadden, 1990 to 1993.
Legal Experience: Associate Attorney, Silver, Shaeffer, Goldwasser & Hadden, 1993 to 1995, specializing in police defense during disciplinary investigations, labor negotiations, and civil litigation (writs and injunctions); Associate Attorney, Castle & Krause, 1995 to 1997, specializing in police administrative hearings and civil litigation; Partner, Lackie, Dammeier & McGill APC, 1997 to
2006, "Of counsel," Lackie, Dammeier & McGill, APC, 2006 to present..
Mr. Lackie has extensive experience in internal affairs representation, administrative appeal hearings and civil litigation in defense of police officers and their associations. He handles local, state and federal law enforcement cases. His track record for winning serious disciplinary cases and court actions is one of the best in the business. He has argued cases before several courts of appeals and been invited to brief police cases before the California Supreme Court. He is a frequent and well-known lecturer on the police defense circuit on the Bill of Rights and Critical Incidents.
Mr. Lackie is retained privately by law enforcement officers to defend termination cases even where the officer has union representation available. He has personally handled numerous injunctions and writs vindicating police rights and overturning discipline, including injunctions barring police agencies from violating the Bill of Rights. He is a featured presenter of multi-day seminars for law enforcement hosted by Lackie, Dammeier & McGill
APC.
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