Covington Lawyers Recognized with Daily Journal's 2018 CLAY Award

SAN FRANCISCO—Covington’s Jeffrey Davidson, Thomas Garten, Laura Muschamp, and Michael Plimack have been named among the 2018 “California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year” by the Daily Journal. This annual award recognizes lawyers in the state who have made a “significant impact on public policy, the law, the profession, or a particular practice area.”

Mr. Davidson was recognized for his work on behalf of the University of California and UC President Janet Napolitano in litigation challenging the federal government’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The publication highlighted the team’s “profound victory” when U.S. District Judge William H. Alsup granted their request to enjoin the government from ending DACA on a nationwide basis.

Mr. Garten, Ms. Muschamp, and Mr. Plimack, who worked alongside the ACLU of Southern California and Public Advocates, were honored for their efforts that resulted in a $150 million settlement that will provide services to students in Los Angeles’ 50 highest-need schools. As the publication notes, Community Coalition v. LAUSD was the “first lawsuit to enforce California’s new landmark school funding law, the Local Control Funding Formula.”