J. Mira Hashmall 

J. Mira Hashmall says she is always up for a challenge. Lately, she’s had more than a few.

In August, Hashmall defended Los Angeles County in the very high-profile federal court trial over graphic photos that sheriff deputies and firefighters improperly took and shared of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others. The federal jury returned two verdicts of $15 million each against her clients. Bryant v. County of Los Angeles, 2:20-cv-09582 (C.D. Cal., filed Oct. 19, 2020).

The plaintiffs had asked for a total of $75 million. “This is the home of the Lakers, so trying that case in Los Angeles was no small feat,” Hashmall said. “I was happy to take it on and, for the first time, really shed light on the hard work of the first responders in connection with that incident. It’s unfortunate that all of that got overshadowed by mistakes made by just a few folks.”

Hashmall also represents L.A. County in high-profile federal litigation challenging its handling of homelessness. Less than three weeks after the jury returned verdicts in the Bryant trial, the county and the plaintiffs representing the homeless reached a $236 million settlement.

But U.S. District Judge David O. Carter rejected the settlement, so the two sides came back in April with an $850.5 million agreement. Carter turned it down as well, saying the deal did not allow for enough oversight and enforcement.

“It’s a highly unique circumstance, to put it mildly,” Hashmall said. “There’s no basis, we think, in this record for denial under Rule 41. And yet I’ve got a November trial date.” She has petitioned the 9th Circuit to step in. L.A. Alliance for Human Rights v. City of Los Angeles, 23-70076 (9th Circ., filed May 11, 2023).

Another challenge Hashmall faced last year was the first week of August. She heads her firm’s appellate department, and she argued an appeal on Tuesday that week and another on Wednesday. Friday was the final pretrial hearing in Bryant. “It was probably the wildest week I’ve had as a lawyer.”

She won both appeals. One reversed an $8.1 million verdict against the county in an employment retaliation suit brought by an ex-deputy sheriff. “Reversing a jury verdict is sort of the Holy Grail for appellate lawyers, in the sense of it being very difficult,” she said. Rodriguez v. County of Los Angeles, B304818 (Cal. App. 2nd Dist., dec’d Sept. 20, 2022).

Hashmall did not handle the original trial, but she will handle the next one, set for 2024.

Two days after that decision, she received another appellate win in a case she did handle below. The Court of Appeal agreed that then-Sheriff Alex Villanueva could not reinstate a deputy fired for domestic abuse. County of Los Angeles v. Villanueva, B310871 (Cal. App. 2nd Dist., dec’d Sept. 22, 2022).

She’s set to begin trial again in August, defending former District Attorney Jackie Lacey in a suit brought by protesters who seek millions in emotional distress damages over a 5 a.m. ruckus outside Lacey’s home. Abdullah v. Lacey, 20STCV40080 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed Oct. 19, 2020).

“It’s going to be a very interesting trial,” Hashmall said.

— Don DeBenedictis