Algeria R. Ford

Algeria R. Ford

Pronouns: he, him, his

Algeria Ford is a member of the Public Law, Labor and Employment, Litigation, and Education practice groups. Al currently serves as City Attorney for the City of Simi Valley, Assistant City Attorney for the City of Cathedral City and Assistant City Attorney for the City of Rialto. Al also serves as General Counsel for the Banning Library District, General Counsel for City of Simi Valley/Waterworks District No. 8, and Assistant General Counsel for the Sunline Transit Agency. In addition, Al serves as special counsel in the areas of police and employment law for the Hesperia Unified School District, the Val Verde Unified School District, and the Apple Valley Unified School District. Finally, Al provides special counsel labor and employment services to Fritts Ford Riverside.

In the area of litigation, Al has extensive experience in the areas of labor and employment, civil rights, tort and premise liability, and code enforcement.  Al has also handled appeals in the California Court of Appeal as well as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal.

In the public law arena, Al advises on Public Records Act and subpoena responses, Brown Act problems, Conflicts of Interest and Pitchess motions. Al’s practice also includes conducting independent internal investigations, serving as lead labor negotiator for public entity negotiations, advising and representing employers on discipline issues and during grievance procedures, drafting ordinances, and providing general advice to department heads, elected officials, and private employers. Al also has a robust training practice and routinely trains clients on emerging issues for public entities including in the law enforcement, employment law and records disclosure context.

Prior to joining the firm, Al represented public sector clients while employed with the San Bernardino Office of County Counsel as a member of both the litigation and employment groups.  In that capacity Al obtained successful results on various motions and as counsel in jury trials, assisted in drafting policies and rules, regularly advised on POBR issues, Internal Affairs Investigations and employment disputes, and represented the County before the Civil Service Commission. In addition, Al advised the Sheriff Department during federal investigations.

Al previously worked as a Deputy District Attorney with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted multiple cases to jury verdict.  Prior to that he worked for the Louisville Metro Public Defender’s Office, obtaining successful results for clients at hearings and jury trial.

During law School, Al was the Editor-in-Chief of two of the school’s three legal journals, was a member of the Moot Court Board, and served on the school’s National Trial and National Environmental Moot Court Teams.  In addition, he won the School’s prestigious oral advocacy competition during his second year of law school and received honors for obtaining the highest grade in Advanced Constitutional Law, Advanced Trial Practice, and Criminal Procedure.

  • Koslow v. City of Cathedral City, et al. Court of Appeals case concerning the legality of using third party hearing officers to hear public entity administrative appeals.
  • Tusant v. City of Hemet, et al. Lead trial counsel in a state jury trial involving alleged dangerous condition, which resulted in an accident that caused traumatic brain injury and paralysis.
  • Conwell v. County of San Bernardino, et alLead trial counsel in federal jury trial, resulting in defense verdict, in case involving alleged excessive force resulting in traumatic brain injury.
  • Mackey v. County of San Bernardino, et alLead trial counsel in jury trial, resulting in defense verdict, in case involving police shooting of a murder suspect.
  • Rogoff v. County of San Bernardino, et al. Second Chair in jury trial, resulting in defense verdict, in case involving alleged excessive force by a patrol officer responding to a 911 call.
  • Birdt v. San Bernardino Sheriffs’ Department, et alObtained Summary Judgment in a Second Amendment case challenging a Sheriff’s discretion to deny a Concealed Carry permit.
  • Madrigal, et al v. United States of America, et alObtained Judgment on the Pleadings in a case involving alleged constitutional violations during prior state civil forfeiture action.
  • Perez v. County of San Bernardino, et alObtained dismissal in a case challenging the constitutionality of a City’s gang injunction.
  • Simon v. James Henning, et al. Obtained Summary Judgment in a First Amendment case alleging violation of freedom of religion.
  • Ayala v. San Bernardino Sheriffs’ DepartmentObtained dismissal in a case where officers arrested a plaintiff on a stale restraining order.
  • Bond v. Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, et al. Ninth Circuit Appeal challenging District Court’s immunity analysis in a deliberate indifference case against hospital.

  • J.D., University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, 2010
  • M.S., University of Maryland University College, 2007
  • B.S., Drexel University, 2003
  • State Bar of California
  • State Bar of Kentucky
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Central District of California
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky