Meet Our Staff
Dieter C. Dammeier
Dieter Dammeier is one of the founding partners 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 Sheriff's 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 hundreds of public safety contracts obtaining record salary and benefit increases benefiting not only LDM clients but pushing the California public safety market to record levels. Dieter has become the preeminent attorney in California for police negotiations and as such, now handles negotiations for more police associations than any other attorney in the Country.
As a PORAC LDF 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's 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. Dieter has made countless appearances on local and national television advocating for his police officer clients.
Email Dieter at Dieter@policeattorney.com
Michael A. McGill
Michael joined what is now Lackie, Dammeier & McGill in 2004 as an associate and became a partner in 2008. He has spent his entire career specializing exclusively in the representation of public safety associations and their officers. Michael represents officers in all labor and employment matters, with a primary focus on litigation and trial work. His aggressive style has produced tremendous results significantly enhancing the rights of public safety officers throughout the United States. Michael has successfully litigated virtually every state and federal law affecting the rights of public safety officers and is widely considered an expert on important matters, such as the Public Safety Officer Procedural Bill of Rights Act, the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the First Amendment.
Michael divides his time equally between state and federal court, and his repeated successes have netted his clients millions of dollars through settlement or trial. His work has resulted in several published decisions each improving the rights afforded to peace officers, including Florio v. City of Ontario, 130 Cal.App.4th 1462 (2005) (finding that arbitration cost-sharing provisions are unconstitutional); Soto v. County of Riverside (2008) 162 Cal.App.4th 492, 76 Cal.Rptr.3d 21 (holding that union contract cannot waive the constitutional rights of its members); Rialto Police Benefit Association v. City of Rialto, 155 Cal.Rptr.4th 1295 (2007) (as an issue of first impression, city was required, under Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, to meet and confer with association concerning city's decision to contract out with county for services); York v. Robinson, 566 F.3d 817 (9th Cir. 2009) (public safety officer's reporting of numerous instances of possible corruption, and follow-up communications when he did not receive adequate response, involved "matters of public concern"); Quon v. Arch Wireless Operating Co., Inc., 554 F.3d 769 (9th Cir. 2009) (ground breaking case involving the privacy rights of public employees in text message devices owned by the city, in which the court held that employees had an expectation of privacy in content of their city-owned text messages); and Desrochers v. City of San Bernardino, 572 F.3d 703 (9th Cir. 2009) (identifying the parameters by which a public employees may be entitled to constitutional protection for speech in the workplace).
Michael graduated from California Lutheran University in 1999 with a B.S. in Sports Medicine and Athletic Training. He later graduated cum laude in 2003 from the University of La Verne College of Law. 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. Michael is a member of the California Bar, each of the U.S. District Courts for the State of California, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, and the United States Supreme Court.
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 several intercollegiate awards while completing his undergraduate degree. Michael makes his home in Orange County with his wife.
Email Michael at Mcgill@policeattorney.com
Saku E. Ethir
Saku E. Ethir earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology at California State University Long Beach in 1995. Saku then went on to earn her Juris Doctorate (JD) at Western State University College of Law in 1999. Saku was admitted to the California State Bar in 1999.
Prior to joining Lackie, Dammeier & McGill APC, in 2001, Saku worked for another police defense firm from 1999-2001 adding to her experience in arbitrations, administrative hearings, mediations, court appearances, depositions, internal affairs interrogations, and Skelly hearings. During this time Saku gained significant experience in the police disciplinary process; gained significant familiarity with the the Peace Officers Procedural Bill of Rights. During this period before Saku joined LDM she was involved in handling the now infamous 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.
Saku joined Lackie, Dammeier & McGill APC in March of 2001 and is among the senior associates in the Firm. Saku is a police defense specialist, handling administrative cases from inception through the appeal process. At LDM she has successfully litigated numerous wrongful termination cases and demotion cases involving allegations of dishonesty, excessive force, sexual harassment, traffic related incidents, and multiple other department policy violations and penal code violations. Saku has been successful in getting discipline suspensions reduced or overturned in many cases for Officers. She has also been successful, via City Personnel Boards decisions, Los Angeles Civil Service Commission decisions and Arbitrator decisions, in getting countless officers reinstated to their positions, and made whole as to wages and benefits, following their terminations.
Saku is also known in the firm as the go to attorney for issues involving denials of CCW Endorsements for retired officers. She has been successful in several Appeal Hearings challenging Police Chiefs' denials of the endorsement.
Another area of expertise Saku has is in the area of Restraining Orders. On numerous occasions, in Court, Saku has successfully opposed attempts by civilians to obtain Restraining Orders (RO) against officers.
Saku's track record as an LDF panel attorney is among the top, if not the best, in the State when it comes to fighting termination cases involving police officers. With her fierce dedication to her clients, it is no surprise she is among the top selected attorneys in the State in fighting disciplinary cases.
Email Saku at Saku@policeattorney.com
Andrew M. Dawson
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 15 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. Andrew is also a guest speaker regarding Internal Affairs investigations and disciplinary appeals for PORAC and training seminars organized by Lackie Dammeier & McGill.
At Lackie Dammeier and McGill, APC, 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 arbitrations, City Personnel Boards, Los Angeles Civil Service Commission and the State Personnel Board. A sampling of his successful resolutions include: City of Arcadia Lieutenant and Sergeant both received favorable settlements after their terminations; California Highway Patrol Officer was reinstated after he was terminated; El Monte Police Sergeant was reinstated after he was terminated; three (3) Los Angeles County Police Officers were reinstated after they were terminated; Buena Park Police Officer was reinstated after he was terminated; overturned a demotion with the City of Garden Grove; and, received a favorable settlement for a demotion at the City of Signal Hill.
Andrew is always ready to take on the tough disciplinary cases that others shy away from. He is known throughout the State as one of the most aggressive LDF panel attorneys. Andrew takes a personal interest in his clients and becomes self invested in their clients success. This is why he is among the most sought after LDF attorneys when it comes to tough disciplinary cases.
Email Andrew at Andrew@policeattorney.com
Steven J. Brock
Steven J. 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
Robin L. Sergi
Rob is a retired Lieutenant with the Long Beach Police Department with 26 years of service and retired in December 2006. As a police officer with Long Beach PD he had a variety of assignments including, vice, undercover detective, Career Criminal Apprehension, Robbery and patrol. He spent 9 years on the SWAT team, 1 year as sniper and 8 years as a Sergeant/Team Leader. As a supervisor he worked as a sergeant within the Special Enforcement Section for many years and retired as a patrol Lieutenant. Rob spent several years on the board of the Long Beach Police Officer Association.
Rob brings a wealth of police experience along with his legal training to bear on his clients issues. He passed the bar in 1992 and has devoted his entire legal practice to the field of police labor and police officer discipline cases. Rob has firsthand experience handling Officer involved shootings from all perspectives, as an officer involved in more than one OIS, as a POA rep, as an attorney and as an incident commander.
Email Rob at Rob@policeattorney.com
Kimberly D. Riley
Kimberly Riley graduated from California State University, San Bernardino with a Bachelors Degree in History and Economics and from Claremont Graduate University with a Masters Degree in Economics with emphasis in Business and Finance. She went on to pursue her Law Degree at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento and was admitted to the California Bar in 2008.
During law school, Kimberly was the recipient of the Amicus Lex Award, awarded to the first year law student who ranked number one in their class. She is also a member of the Traynor Honor Society, McGeorge School of Law; Phi Kappa Phi, National Honor Society; Omicron Delta Epsilon, Economics Honor Society; Phi Alpha Theta, History Honors Society. She has also been the recipient of various academic scholarships, some of which include: McBride Family Economics Scholarship, SEMA Memorial Scholarship, and Judge Elvin F. and Pauline C. Sheehy Scholarship.
While attending law school, Kimberly worked as a civilian manager for the Sacramento Police Department. She managed the Governmental Affairs Unit in the Chief's Office, which served as the police department liaison with outside governmental agencies and other city departments, primarily the Sacramento City Attorney's Office, City Manager's Office, and City Council and drafted, reviewed, and processed contracts, Public Record Act requests, City Council reports, legislative analyses and opinions, and ordinance revisions. She also served as a member, on behalf of the Sacramento Police Department, of the California Peace Officers' Law and Legislative Committee.
Kimberly joined Lackie Dammeier & McGill, APC in 2008. She primarily handles police administrative disciplinary matters, responds to officer-involved shootings, and prepares Brady appeals.
In her spare time, Kimberly enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
Email Kimberly at Kim@policeattorney.com
Mark Johnson
Mark Johnson is a retired police lieutenant having worked for the Los Angeles Police Department for twenty years. He held a variety of supervisory and special assignments. He attended law school at night while on the job. Thereafter, he was a community college professor for four years, teaching administration of justice curriculum.
He is a graduate of California State University and Southwestern School of Law. He is admitted to the California State Bar, United States District Court, Central California and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Since his admission to the bar, Mark has practiced primarily criminal defense and employment law. Although he is an experienced trial attorney, he has had as much success resolving cases through negotiations leading to favorable client settlements.
Since joining Lackie, Dammeier & McGill, 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. Mark 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 many of the Firm's criminal representation matters, which include the representation of police officers in misdemeanor and felony cases. These criminal matters involve cases both in the State and Federal Court.
He recently obtained not guilty verdicts for a police officers in criminal jury trials. He has also successfully diverted the prosecution of felony domestic battery charges in several separate cases where the officers were initially placed on a leave of absence, and in some cases arrested, too. In these cases, each client has been returned to duty without restrictions. Mark has also defeated or prevented the issuance of restraining orders that might end an officer's career due to firearm prohibitions required as part of the issuance of a restraining order.
Email Mark at Mark@policeattorney.com
Rana M. Kawar
Rana M. Kawar received her bachelor of arts degree in Political Science from University of California, Irvine in 2001. Thereafter, Ms. Kawar worked for the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs for approximately two years, assisting with the formal disciplinary grievance process as well as the employee negotiations with the County of Los Angeles. In 2003, Ms. Kawar attended Pepperdine University School of Law, where she successfully attained her Juris Doctor and Master of Dispute Resolution in May 2006. During law school, Ms. Kawar received the honor of First Place Oralist and Best Respondents= Brief in the school=s prestigious annual Vincent S. Dalsimer Appellate Advocacy Competition. She also received the Witkin Award for Academic Excellence in Arbitration Practice. While in law school, Ms. Kawar also completed a judicial internship at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, where she conducted legal research and drafted numerous opinions on behalf of an Administrative Judge. Ms. Kawar also completed an internship with the California Academy of Mediation Professionals, where she conducted mediation of limited jurisdiction cases for various County of Los Angeles courthouse locations.
Ms. Kawar was admitted to the California Bar in 2006. Upon graduating from law school, Ms. Kawar began working for a prominent personal injury law firm, handling all aspects of the civil litigation, including the preparation and argument of almost all law and motion matters, conducted depositions of key witnesses and defended client depositions; prepared mediation briefs and represented clients in the mediation/settlement conference process; prepared trial documents and assisted with trial related matters. Ms. Kawar also worked extensively on appeals, where she prepared numerous appellate briefs resulting in favorable outcomes for her clients. Since joining Lackie, Dammeier,& McGill=s, Ms. Kawar handles all aspects of the police administrative disciplinary process, including the initial interview through the appeal process, officer-involved shootings.
Email Rana at Rana@policeattorney.com
Matt Trosko
Mr. Trosko earned his BA from Cal State Fullerton in 1995 where he majored in Political Science, was on the Dean's List and was a member of the Political Science Student's Association. Mr. Trosko was admitted to the State Bar of California in1998 after receiving his JD from Chapman University School of Law, Cum Laude, in Spring of 1998. At Chapman, he was a member of the Law Review, Student Honor Counsel, and recipient of various merit scholarships.
Mr. Trosko began his career with the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Through his over eight year tenure with the office, he held various assignments where he was responsible for all aspects of felony and misdemeanor criminal prosecutions including investigations, case preparation, and jury trials. He also trained Peace Officers in criminal investigation techniques, legal issues and trial skills. He was assigned to the Writs and Appeals Unit where he was responsible for motions and appeals on both misdemeanor and felony cases. Additionally, Mr. Trosko was a member of the Office's elite Felony Trial Panel where he conducted numerous jury trials that resulted in the convictions of several serious and violent felony offenders.
Mr. Trosko has wide experience in the area of criminal law, having worked as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney in both public and private practice. As a defense attorney, he has handled a wide range of criminal matters including jury trials, felony preliminary hearings, and appeals.
As an associate at Lackie, Dammeier & McGill, his responsibilities include representing police officers in administrative matters, including internal affairs interviews, Skelly hearings, and appeal hearings. Many of these matters involve officers facing substantial discipline including termination.
Mr. Trosko also responds to officer involved shootings and represents officers involved in both the administrative interviews and in criminal investigation interviews. In addition, Mr. Trosko handles many of the firm's criminal representation matters, including the representation of peace officers charged in both misdemeanor and felony cases.
Mr. Trosko is admitted to all California Courts, and the United States District Court, Central District of California. He is a former member of the California Deputy District Attorney's Association, a current member of the California Public Defender's Association and Orange County Bar Association, and a Member of the Board Directors of the North Orange County Bar Association.
Mr. Trosko is a life-long resident of Fullerton, California where he resides in a vintage home with his wife Diane, his dogs Cash and Bettie, and his cat, Otto.
Email Matthew at Matt@policeattorney.com
Russell M. Perry
Russell Perry attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and earned a B.S. in Social Science with a concentration in Criminal Justice in 1996. As an undergraduate, he completed an internship with the San Luis Obispo County Probation Department and was later hired by the department to supervise wards at the juvenile hall. After graduating from college, he worked as a correctional officer for the State of California at the California Mens Colony (CMC). In 1997, Russell was hired as a probation officer by San Bernardino County. He was assigned to multi agency law enforcement task forces such as the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Street Enforcement Team (S.E.T.) and IMPACT, a collaborative between the Probation Department and the San Bernardino Police Department. While working full time as a probation officer, Russell attended night school at Whittier Law School and earned his Juris Doctorate in 2006. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 2006, as well as the Central and Northern U.S. District Courts.
Russell began his legal career as a civil litigator at Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith, where he gained extensive civil litigation experience. At Lackie, Dammeier & McGill, he represents peace officers in all civil litigation matters including violations of the Public Safety Officer Procedural Bill of Rights Act, the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, California "whistleblower" statutes, employment discrimination, and unlawful retaliation.
Email Russell at Russell@policeattorney.com
Carolina "Veronica" Diaz
Ms. Diaz received a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from UCLA, and graduated with Latin Honors from UCLA. During her senior year of college, she was chosen out of hundreds of applicants, to participate in JusticeCorps, a subsidiary of AmeriCorps, to help provide legal services to those who could not afford it. She served for JusticeCorps at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse for one year.
Ms. Diaz received a significant merit scholarship to University of LaVerne, COL, that virtually paid for most of her tuition for the first year of law school. Each subsequent year Ms. Diaz received merit scholarships. Ms. Diaz served as an officer for the Hispanic National Bar Association and was placed on the Dean's List for being in the top 15% of her class for her last semester of law school.
Ms. Diaz puts her legal skills to work at LDM for the Firm's clients in the area of civil litigation. She is admitted to practice before all California State Courts, United States District Court, Central District, United States District Court, Eastern District and the United States Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit.
Email Veronica at Veronica@policeattorney.com
Jay Arambulo
Mr. Arambulo works in the civil litigation department of Lackie, Dammeier & McGill. He handles a range of civil matters, including violations of the Public Safety Officer Procedural Bill of Rights Act, Fair Employment and Housing Act, California Labor Code, and California Government Code.
Mr. Arambulo graduated magna cum laude from Southwestern Law School. He was honored with placement on the Dean's List and earned the Dean's Merit Award throughout law school. He received a Witkin Award in Sales, as well as CALI Awards in Contracts, Secured Transactions, Agency & Partnership, and Constitutional Law. He earned positions with the Southwestern Law Review, first as a Staff Member and later as a Lead Articles Editor. In addition, he authored a published article, O Where, O Where Has My Legal Job Gone?: Examining the Realities of "Offshoring" Legal Work and Why States Can Regulate the Practice Despite Congress' Broad Power Under the Foreign Commerce Clause, 38 Sw. L. Rev. 195 (2008).
During law school, he volunteered as a law clerk for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office where he assisted in the prosecution of crimes against police officers. He also completed an externship with the Los Angeles County Superior Court and worked at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority where he helped to investigate and build cases against violators of securities industry rules and regulations.
Prior to his legal career, he worked extensively in the accounting field and business management. He has a B.A. in history from the University of California, San Diego, and earned his M.B.A from Claremont Graduate University.
Mr. Arambulo is a member of the State Bar of California.
He may be contacted at jay@policeattorney.com.
Mike McCoy
Mike graduated in 1982 from Cal Poly, Pomona with a degree in Public Administration with an emphasis on outdoor recreation.
Mike worked for the Colton Police Department for 22 year before retiring and coming to LDM. He has worked Patrol, Traffic and on the Multi-Enforcement Team. He has served as a FTO in both the Patrol and Traffic Divisions. He is trained in advanced traffic investigation with some reconstruction experience and is also motor trained. Mike has received the CHP 10851 award (Grand Master) and has testified as an expert witness in several San Bernardino County courts on traffic and GTA cases. Mike was active with the POA both on and off the board while at Colton PD..
Mike attended California Southern Law School in Riverside while continuing to work full-time at Colton PD.. While attending school Mike interned for a criminal defense attorney in San Bernardino where he did staff work, made court appearances and participated in several DMV/DUI hearings. Mike graduated in 2008 and was admitted to the California Bar.
As an associate at LDM, Mike represents officers in all aspects of administrative cases, including internal affairs, Skellys, appeal hearings and critical incidents.
Mike is married with 4 adult children including a set of triplets.
Mike recently joined Lackie, Dammeier and McGill and will be handling LDF matters.
Email Mike at McCoy@policeattorney.com
Michael Lackie
Michael Lackie is semi-retired but still works with the firm as "of counsel." In this capacity, Lackie provides representation only to 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 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.
Damian Stafford
Damian was born and raised in Southern California. After graduating high school and attending college, he began his law enforcement career as a police officer in 1990. Damian learned about collective bargaining while serving on his police association's board of directors. He participated as a bargaining team member, doing research and discussing strategy. He was promoted to sergeant and was later elected president of the management association. While on the management association board, Damian took a more direct role in negotiations and eventually become a lead negotiator, successfully negotiating management association contracts.
In 2005, Damian moved to an Orange County municipal police agency. He was elected to the police association's board of directors in 2006. In 2007, Damian was selected as the lead negotiator where he worked closely with Dieter Dammeier for the first time. With Dieter's supervision, the negotiating team successfully reached an agreement with the city establishing his agency as one of the highest paid police departments in Southern California.
Damian has since joined Lackie Dammeier & McGill as a labor specialist, conducting contract negotiations for our clients. In addition to working for Lackie, Dammeier & McGill.
Email Damian at Damian@policeattorney.com
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