Brown, Goldstein & Levy partners Neel Lalchandani and Jamie Strawbridge shared legal insights regarding the over-policing of disabled individuals in their article, “To remedy police misconduct, federal disability law is more effective than the Constitution,” which they co-authored alongside former BGL associate, Michael Abrams, a senior harm reduction attorney at the Network for Public Health Law. The article was published in the fall 2025 edition of Georgetown University Law Center’s American Criminal Law Review (ACLR).
Neel, Jamie, and Michael discussed how individuals with disabilities are overpoliced and, thus, disproportionately suffer injuries caused by police misconduct. The article also highlights that federal disability law – including Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which applies to police agencies and emergency response services – can be more effective for plaintiffs in cases involving people with disabilities harmed by policing practices than Section 1983 claims, which attorneys historically have used to challenge police misconduct.
The ACLR, published by Georgetown University Law Center, is one of the most prestigious and well-respected legal journals in the United States. The ACLR publishes three issues per year, featuring articles from leading scholars in criminal law. It also publishes the Annual Survey of White Collar Crime, a comprehensive reference work for white-collar crime practitioners. The journal is known for its rigorous selection process, choosing articles that are timely, relevant, clear, well-researched, and of interest to practitioners across the country.
In November 2024, Neel and Jamie also participated in a Police Response Panel, hosted by the ACLR and Georgetown’s Disabled Law Student Association. The panel was part of a day-long symposium, “Disability and the Criminal Legal System.” Neel also has taught a wrongful conviction seminar at Georgetown Law, while Jamie teaches an appellate advocacy course at the University of Maryland Fracis King Carey School of Law.
Neel Lalchandani represents individuals, nonprofits, and companies in a diverse array of civil rights and commercial matters. Among other victories for his clients, Neel has helped secure several of the largest payments in Maryland history for victims of police misconduct, including more than $80 million for innocent men imprisoned for crimes they did not commit. Learn more about Neel here.
Jamie Strawbridge represents individuals in cases involving civil rights, disability rights, police misconduct, and housing discrimination. Jamie also represents companies in high-stakes commercial litigation, including ownership disputes and breach-of-contract claims. He has successfully resolved cases involving discrimination against individuals with disabilities in the healthcare sector, voting, and the criminal justice system. Learn more about Jamie here.
Read the full American Criminal Law Review article here.
Founded in 1982, Brown, Goldstein & Levy is a law firm based in Baltimore, Maryland, with an office in Washington, D.C. The firm is nationally recognized in a wide variety of practice areas, including complex civil and commercial litigation, civil rights, health care, family law, and criminal defense. Above all else, Brown, Goldstein & Levy is a client-centered law firm that brings decades of experience and passionate, effective advocacy to your fight for justice.