SEATTLE — The plaintiffs’ bar is urging law school deans across the country to respond quickly to an explosion of antisemitism across campuses, according to a letter signed by more than a dozen of the nation’s top plaintiffs’ firms.

The leading plaintiff-side class action and civil rights firms banding together include Baron & Budd; Carella, Byrne, Cecchi, Brody & Agnello, P.C.; Edelson PC; Grant & Eisenhofer; Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP; Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check LLP; Levin Law, P.A.; The Miller Law Firm, P.C.; Motley Rice LLC; Pomerantz LLP; Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP; The Rosen Law Firm; Seeger Weiss LLP; and Wexler Boley & Elgersma LLP.

“Many of us never imagined we would witness this level of hatred and violence toward Jewish people and the State of Israel,” said Hagens Berman’s managing partner and cofounder, Steve Berman. “Law schools and universities have a moral and legal obligation to protect students and to hold persons responsible for calls to violence and intimidation.”

The law firms invite other plaintiff-side firms to join with them. They are sending their letter to all U.S. law schools, including dozens of schools which the firms routinely recruit and hire from. 

Dear Law School Dean:

We write to you on behalf of several of the largest and most successful plaintiff-side law firms in the world. As firms representing workers, consumers, investors, the injured, and victims of discrimination, fraud, and human rights abuses, we regularly recruit law students committed to social justice.

As such, we depend upon and consider ourselves partners with law schools in preparing and then mentoring new attorneys to be exceptional litigators and morally grounded advocates for justice.

In the weeks following the horrific October 7 attack by the terrorist group Hamas on thousands of innocent civilians in Israel—including the torture, rape, and mutilation of infants, children, women, and the elderly, more than 200 of whom remain hostages—we have witnessed an appalling rise in support among law students and student organizations for the actions of Hamas, for attacks against Jewish students and gathering places, and for the destruction of the State of Israel.

Law students and professors expressing support for Hamas or similar terrorist groups, for violence against Jews, or for the destruction of Israel would not be welcome at our firms. Such views are antithetical to our support and legal advocacy for human rights recognized by all civilized peoples and for the right of Israel to exist. We condemn hatred and racism directed against any group of people. 

We ask you to ensure the safety of Jewish law students and to condemn without qualification this rising antisemitism. We also ask that you investigate and, if appropriate, take disciplinary action against any faculty or employees of your institutions that make statements or take actions that promote antisemitism or create a hostile campus environment in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Baron & Budd
Carella, Byrne, Cecchi, Brody & Agnello, P.C.
Edelson PC
Grant & Eisenhofer
Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP
Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check LLP
Levin Law, P.A.
The Miller Law Firm, P.C.
Motley Rice LLC
Pomerantz LLP
Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
The Rosen Law Firm
Seeger Weiss LLP
Wexler Boley & Elgersma LLP

About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs’ rights complex litigation law firm with a tenacious drive for achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. Since its founding in 1993, the firm’s determination has earned it numerous national accolades, awards and titles of “Most Feared Plaintiff’s Firm,” MVPs and Trailblazers of class-action law. The firm’s cases have recovered more than $320 billion for its clients. More about the law firm and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.

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