Curtis Briggs

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Curtis Briggs, a criminal defense trial attorney, has played a vital part in some of the most significant cases in recent California history. Briggs’ experience ranges from jury trials for RICO (federal racketeering), organized crime, white-collar crimes, fraud, conspiracy to commit murder, gang murder, kidnapping, manslaughter, robbery, assault, vandalism, and more. Briggs has prevented well over 50 cases from being charged and secured post-charge dismissals in over 40 serious cases. He often tells his clients, "I fight just as hard for the rightfully accused as I do the wrongfully accused. When I was young, I was a defendant. Most of the charges against me were true. My job is to get you a second chance. Your job is to earn it.”

Briggs led the team that secured an acquittal for Max Harris, the young artist charged with 36 counts of manslaughter in the notorious “Ghost Ship Fire” tragedy, one of the most momentous criminal defense acquittals in the nation’s history (due to the number of counts). Co-counsels were Tyler Smith and James Mulgannon. https://www.google.com/gasearch?q=ghost%20ship%20curtis%20briggs&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5

Briggs and his team succeeded in having the entire San Luis Obispo District Attorney's Office recused from the nationally publicized case involving 7 Black Lives Matter protestors. The removal of the entire prosecutor's office was unusual to say the least, but Briggs’ team additionally won at the appellate court level. Ultimately, the California Supreme Court upheld the victory by refusing to hear the matter. https://www.google.com/gasearch?q=curtis%20briggs%20tianna%20arata&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5

Here is an informative article about renowned San Luis Obispo attorney and co-counsel in that case, Patrick Fisher. https://www.sanluisobispo.com/.../article246506605.html Other key players in this victory included Greg Bentley (research and writing), Brian Ford, Steve Rice, Earl Conway, Vincent Barrientos, Tyler Smith, and Brian Buckley.

For the past seven years, Briggs’ team has successfully litigated on behalf of California's longest-serving death row inmate, Douglas Stankewitz, after revealing extreme misconduct on the part of Fresno Law Enforcement. As a result, Mr. Stankewitz is no longer facing the death penalty. In 2023, a habeas petition order to show cause was granted, and Mr. Stankewitz’s 1983 conviction is expected to be overturned in 2024. Other team leaders include Peter Jones (local counsel out of Fresno), Marshall Hammons at Silver Law Firm in of Oakland, and Alexandra Cock (licensed in Washington State). https://www.google.com/gasearch?q=curtis%20briggs%20stankewitz&tbm=nws&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5

Along with Tyler Smith and world-famous Black Panther lawyer, J. Tony Serra, Briggs served as the lead attorney in U.S. vs Chow (AKA Shrimp Boy) in the most explosive federal prosecution in recent history. Federal charges included conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, money laundering, wire fraud, political corruption, and weapons trafficking, involving Chinese organized crime and State Senator Leland Yee. In a notable controversy, Briggs publicly released information regarding Bay Area politicians suspected by the FBI of political corruption, ultimately leading to the filing of criminal charges against multiple local politicians. Briggs was applauded for his efforts by community groups. https://www.google.com/gasearch?q=curtis%20briggs%20shrimp%20boy&tbm=nws&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5

Briggs led a team securing a not-guilty verdict at trial on 3 counts of kidnapping with the intent to rob in a case out of Mendocino County. The client and co-defendant avoided three life sentences and charges were reduced to far less serious crimes. In the months following this victory, Briggs obtained a dismissal for another Mendocino County client charged with possessing for sale 15 pounds of meth, fentanyl, heroin, MDMA, ecstasy, LSD, mushrooms, and firearms. Co-counsels were Vincent Barrientos and James Mulgannon. 

Currently, Briggs is representing one of the alleged Antifa rioters known as the “San Diego 11” who are accused of conspiring to assault white supremacists at a pro-Trump rally in San Diego. The case is expected to proceed to trial in 2023-2024. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/03/17/san-diego-antifa-trial-also-scrutinizes-right-wing-media-andy-ngo/11482238002/

In 2022-2023 alone, Briggs has secured preliminary hearing dismissals for rape (Santa Cruz), assault with a deadly weapon (San Francisco), assault/assault with a deadly weapon (Santa Clara), and 12 counts of fraud (Lake County). 

Lastly, as Briggs states, "I dislike the business side of my job it’s impossible to put a monetary value on fighting for someone’s freedom. Some attorneys only worry about having a winning trial record, but I prefer underdog cases because I know my clients are worth fighting for. When I look a mother in the eye and see and feel her fear for her accused child, I find a way to help. It shatters my heart when, on rare occasions, as with all attorneys, I do lose a trial. I remain grateful to fight on.”

Briggs handles cases through all phases of litigation. Approximately twenty-five percent of billable hours are for pro bono representation. New client consultations are paid at $500 an hour. Most cases are cases are billed hourly.