Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is pleased to announce the winners of the firm's annual team and individual Frank Wheat Memorial Award. The Frank Wheat Award is given every year to lawyers in the firm who obtain significant results for their pro bono clients, and demonstrate pro bono leadership and initiative that serve as an inspiration to others.
This year, the team award is presented to Gibson Dunn attorneys from the Washington, D.C. office for their efforts on behalf of 13 individual plaintiffs and the Maryland State Conference of NAACP Branches. The individual award is presented to Dallas associate Mark Whitburn on behalf of a severely disabled 26-year-old man.
"We are proud of this year's winners of the Frank Wheat award," said Ken Doran, Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn. "Gibson Dunn is deeply committed to pro bono work. We encourage our attorneys to contribute their time and expertise in meaningful ways to improve the lives of the underrepresented members of their communities."
"In 2009, the firm contributed more than 110,000 hours of pro bono work. Through the Frank Wheat awards, we hope to encourage attorneys by recognizing their peers' contributions. This year's winners have truly made a difference in the lives of their clients," said Scott Edelman, Chair of Gibson Dunn's Pro Bono Committee. "The results that they’ve achieved for their clients, their communities and the justice system are inspiring."
About the Team Award Project
A team of Gibson Dunn attorneys successfully negotiated a settlement-in-principle on behalf of 13 individual plaintiffs and the Maryland State Conference of NAACP Branches, bringing to a close almost four years of intense litigation against the Baltimore Police Department, the City of Baltimore, and dozens of officials and police officers. The case centered upon allegations that the BPD arrested individuals for "quality of life offenses," such as loitering, littering, disorderly conduct and failure to obey without probable cause.
The Gibson Dunn team aggressively litigated this case, began settlement negotiations almost a year ago and reached an agreement-in-principle in January 2010. Under the terms of the agreement, the Police Department will institute policies that reject “Zero-Tolerance Policing” and establish a range of appropriate officer responses when faced with minor offenses. In addition, the Department will issue written directives that spell out the elements of common minor offenses to ensure that officers are aware of the scope of their authority. Every officer will be trained on the new policies for offenses, and the Department will monitor officer conduct to ensure compliance with the new policies. The Department’s efforts and internal monitoring under the settlement will be reviewed by an independent auditor, who will file public reports regarding the Department’s compliance.
The team was led by New York partner Mitchell Karlan, and includes Washington, D.C. associates Daniel Cantu, Bennett Borden, Jason Morrow, Joy Dowdle, Michael Billok, Hillary Gould Benson, Lissa Percopo, Sarah Wilson and Colleen Petroni.
About the Individual Award Project
The firm selected Mark Whitburn for the individual award for his work representing Ryan Knowles, a severely disabled man with cerebral palsy and multiple life-threatening medical conditions. Certain Texas state agencies that had been providing nursing care for Knowles in his parents’ home decided to end that arrangement and move Knowles to a state-run institution. In the opinion of Knowles' doctors, the planned move would have resulted in his death. Whitburn filed and argued a motion for preliminary injunction on Knowles’ behalf in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas to prevent the move.
On January 26, 2009, over opposition from the state of Texas, Judge Ed Kinkeade granted the preliminary injunction, finding that Knowles was likely to prevail on his claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Texas Persons with Mental Retardation Act, and the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and that Knowles faced irreparable harm if his transfer were allowed to go forward. On February 10, 2010, Judge Kinkeade granted Whitburn's motion for summary judgment on all claims and permanently prevented the state agencies from terminating the nursing services Knowles needs in his home.
About the Frank Wheat Memorial Award
The award is named for the late Frank Wheat, a Gibson Dunn partner who was deeply committed to community service and pro bono work. A recognized leader in corporate transactions, Wheat served as a commissioner of the Securities Exchange Commission and as president of the Los Angeles County Bar. He also founded the Alliance for Children’s Rights and served as founder and trustee of the Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, a leader of the Sierra Club, and a board member of the Center for Law in the Public Interest, which established a fellowship in his name to train young lawyers in public interest litigation. The award recipients will receive $5,000 to be donated to a pro bono organization of their choice.