Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver

California's premier full-service law firm with an emphasis on the representation of peace officers in disciplinary, criminal, labor, workers' compensation, personal injury and other civil matters.

  • About Us
  • Practice Areas
    • Labor Representation
    • Civil Litigation
    • Personal Injury
      • Example of Case Results
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Maritime Law
    • Estate Planning
    • DOE Security Clearance Hearings
    • Peace Officers
    • Firefighters
    • EMS Agency Investigations
    • Criminal Defense
    • CalPERS Appeals
  • Our Team
  • Classes
  • Media
    • Bulletins
    • RLS in the News
  • Resources
    • Links
    • Resources
    • Newsletters
  • Clients
  • Career Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
Of Counsel/Senior Trial Counsel
Michael D. Schwartz
Encino
P: 747.221.7100
F: 747.221.7107
MSchwartz@RLSLawyers.com
Of Counsel/Senior Trial Counsel
Michael D. Schwartz
Encino
P: 747.221.7100
F: 747.221.7107
MSchwartz@RLSLawyers.com

Michael Schwartz is Of Counsel/Senior Trial Counsel in the Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver, PC (“RLS”) Legal Defense Practice Group. Michael is one of the most highly-regarded and experienced police defense attorneys in California. Michael began his legal career as a Deputy Public Defender in Ventura and Riverside Counties, where he litigated more than one-hundred fifty jury trials to verdict. For the past eighteen years Michael has focused on representing peace officers in some of the toughest and most noteworthy criminal cases venued in Southern California.

Described by the “California Daily Journal” as “an extraordinary talent” and “world class lawyer” and by former Assistant Riverside Public Defender Jorge Alvarado as “one of the best trial lawyers I’ve ever seen.” Michael’s most recent trial victories begins with a full acquittal of Pomona Corporal Chad Jensen in federal court of one count of felony excessive force and two counts of felony obstruction of justice; a full acquittal of Indio Police Officer Sergio Ramirez on three serious felony sexual assault allegations; the complete acquittal of Huntington Park Police Officer Marissa Larios for three counts of child abuse and excessive force; SEBA Deputy Nick Downey hung jury-dismissal for felony excessive force in what came to be known as the highly publicized ‘horse-thief’ case, Indio police officer Charles Holloway for felony excessive Force; the full acquittal of Corporal Jay Cicinelli in the nationally publicized Kelly Thomas Murder trial, the successful defense of San Bernardino Sheriff’s Deputy Ivory Webb in the nationally broadcasted video-taped shooting of an unarmed airman home on leave, the acquittal of Deputy Richard Heverly who faced a maximum term of up to thirty years in prison, as well as the full acquittal of CHP officer Chris Lang charged with excessive force during an arrest.

Michael has also been a keynote speaker several times at the annual PORAC Conference, Rains Lucia Stern Southern California Symposiums, and has been a guest lecturer several times for the San Bernardino District Attorney’s Office mandatory attorney training, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Justice System Integrity Division, the Corona Police Department, the Safety Employee Benefits Association of San Bernardino (SEBA), the Santa Ana Police Department Command Staff, and the Kern Law Enforcement Association (KLEA). Michael is also currently an Adjunct Professor at Whittier Law School and in 2016-2019 was selected for inclusion in the Southern California Super Lawyers list by Thomson Reuters as one of the top 5% of attorneys in his field.

He is licensed to practice in the state courts of California and the U.S. District Court for the Central and Southern District Courts of California.

Disclaimer: Any results set forth herein are based upon the facts of that particular case and do not represent a promise or guarantee.

Education

• B.A., Hofstra University
• J.D., National Law Center of George Washington University

Bulletins & Publications:
Congratulations to our Colleague Michael Schwartz for Not Guilty Verdict in Trial of Anaheim Police Officer Dillon Avila
Officers Acquitted After Viral Video Prompts Federal Charges
Huntington Park Officer Fully Acquitted of Excessive Force Charges
Yet another win for officers
Indio Officer Not Guilty of Felony Excessive Force
Video and Audio Evidence: What to Consider in a Rapidly Changing Landscape
Former Fullerton Police Corporal Jay Cicinelli Found Not Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter Charges in Death of Kelly Thomas
The Ultimate Backup Expands to Southern California
Riverside Police Officer to Return to Work
Suspension Reduced for Probation Officer
News & Press:
Jury Deadlocks in Manslaughter Trial of CHP Officer Who Crashed into Pedestrian
Ex-Anaheim Police Officer Acquitted of Lying in Police Report
L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputy Acquitted at Manslaughter Trial
Trial Begins for L.A. County Deputy Accused of Manslaughter in 2016 Shooting
Gascón Promised to Review Controversial Police Killings. After 6 Months, is He Too Late for Some?
Towner Wins Job Back, Ordered to be Reinstated with Back Pay
Pomona Officers Acquitted in Case Over Teen’s Violent 2015 Arrest at Fair
L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputy Charged with Voluntary Manslaughter in First On-Duty Shooting Prosecution in Nearly 20 Years
L.A.-Area Cop Didn’t Abuse Kids at Camp SLO Boot Camp, Jury Finds
After Deadlocked Jury, 2 San Bernardino Deputies Take Plea Deal in Televised Beating Case
Watch the police beating that cost Indio $140,000
APPLE VALLEY: Francis Pusok arrested again, accused of punching man in nose (UPDATE 2)
DA files charges against 3 deputies in Francis Pusok beating
APPLE VALLEY: Attorney for deputy in taped beating said suspect scared officer
Defense attorneys for cops face tough landscape
Next steps to investigating Freddie Gray’s death as six Baltimore police officers face charges
Video in South Carolina police shooting makes building a defense that much harder
Kelly Thomas death: Will feds prosecute Fullerton ex-cops?
King City police scandal ignites Latinos’ ire
Kelly Thomas case: Ex-officer Cicinelli wants his job back
Kelly Thomas trial: ‘Not guilty’ verdicts a blow to D.A.
Two former officers found not guilty in death of Kelly Thomas
Coroner’s testimony in Kelly Thomas beating challenged
Kelly Thomas trial: Taser had no effect on ‘combative’ Thomas, defense says (video)
Deputy acquitted in airman shooting case
Upcoming Classes & Speaking Engagements:
Past Classes:
July 22nd, 2019 – July 23rd, 2019 – PORAC LDF Conference (Las Vegas, NV)
June 20th – June 21st, 2019 – Protecting Cops in the 21st Century Symposium
June 21st, 2018 – “Protecting Cops in the 21st Century” Symposium (Costa Mesa, CA)
Jun. 22, 2017 – Protecting Cops in the 21st Century Symposium (Newport Beach, CA)
Aug. 29th, 2019 – Police Video Issues Seminar (Los Angeles, CA)
More Past Classes

Michael D. Schwartz

Rated by Super Lawyers

loading …

Consultation Form

Offices across California to serve you.
Contact us now to schedule a consultation.
Contact form not loading? Click here!
Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver, PC publishes this website as a service to our clients and other friends for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as a substitute for specific legal advice or opinions, and the transmission of information through this website is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship between sender and receiver. Internet subscribers and online readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.

© 2023 Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver, PC. All Rights Reserved. | Disclaimer

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie settingsACCEPTREJECT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
  • Contact Us

  • News Alerts

Official logo for Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver
Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver Logo
  • About Us
  • Practice Areas
    ▼
    • Labor Representation
    • Civil Litigation
    • Personal Injury
      ▼
      • Example of Case Results
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Maritime Law
    • Estate Planning
    • DOE Security Clearance Hearings
    • Peace Officers
    • Firefighters
    • EMS Agency Investigations
    • Criminal Defense
    • CalPERS Appeals
  • Our Team
  • Classes
  • Media
    ▼
    • Bulletins
    • RLS in the News
  • Resources
    ▼
    • Links
    • Resources
    • Newsletters
  • Clients
  • Career Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
Hotline phone numbers. Northern California: 925-609-1699. Southern California: 310-393-1486.