They also got to hear "the famed" Willie Gary, introduced as a friend of the judge and longtime attorney for Rev. Her family called upon Grace Funeral Home in Victoria, Texas for assistance. willie gary famous cases horse heaven hills road conditions On December 30, 2006, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the opinion, and on October 2, 2006, the Supreme Court denied the Civil Rights Plaintiffs' petition for certiorari. At the time of the lawsuit, the putter was established as the number one selling putter in the world. In addition, before and after the Civil Rights Action was dismissed, the Gary Lawyers engaged in a fraudulent scheme to conceal their malpractice, which prevented Rowe from discovering their malpractice and fraud for years. Perhaps earlier in life he was decent and honest. Gary and his co-defendants knew that they could not be deposed under oath because to tell the truth would prove their criminal activity and to commit perjury would likely lead to severe sanctions including heavy fines, disbarment and imprisonment. Willie E. Gary is one of the most successful and visible personal injury and medical malpractice lawyers in the United States.The multimillion-dollar awards that he regularly wins for his clients frequently make newspaper headlines. Willie Gary: The $24 Billion Man - The Washington Informer How A Mississippi Funeral Home Showdown Freaked Out The White House Trial Attorney Willie E. Gary Inspires Future Lawyers to "Work Hard and Be the Best". We're Here to HelpFor Support Call Our Office (888) 505-GARY (4279). He has won some of the largest jury awards and settlements in U.S. history, including cases valued in excess of $30 billion. Shocked by this wrongful and unbelievable decision, Plaintiffs were determined to appeal. In August of 2002, Plaintiffs' counsel summoned each of the Plaintiffs to Rundell & Nolan's office for an urgent meeting, each of which was scheduled in a short interval. Here is a partial list of settlements the Gary firm has secured over the past 30 years. When it was his turn at the microphone, all Mr. Rogers said was: "The Bible says be wary of wolves in sheep's' clothing. Jeffrey Dahmer. "Yes, your honor," replied Kobie Gary, 30. View Map. He is dishonest, immoral and a fraudster. v. The William Morris Agency, et al., had been acquired by Clear Channel Communications, Inc. ("Clear Channel") by early 2002. Join Our Newsletter. Willie Gary, his law firm and five of his present and former partners, including Lorenzo Williams and Sekou Gary and former partners Maria Sperando (Law Office of Maria P. Sperando in Stuart, Florida), Tricia Hoffler (Partner in Atlanta law firm Edmond, Lindsay & Hoffler) and disgraced former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell, were sued in federal court in Georgia for racketeering, fraud, legal malpractice and unjust enrichment in Rowe Entertainment, Inc. et al v. Willie E. Gary et al and could face those same charges in state court. On June 30, 2000, Plaintiffs received the judge's opinion and order. However it would have to be done without the assistance of Willie Gary and his law firm. [4], Gary has won a $240 million verdict against Disney for stealing the concept of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. By Alyson M. Palmer Appeals judges have vacated a reduction of Florida plaintiffs' attorney Willie Gary's $28,000 monthly child support burden. Lived In Buford GA, Alpharetta GA, Suwanee GA, Lawrenceville GA. Related To Willie Gary, Katherline Gary, Michelle Gary, Benjamin Gary, Samantha Gary. Willie Gary LLC (Willie Gary) and James Jackson LLC (J J) are the two owners of MBC Gospel Network, LLC (MBC), a business that operates a cable television channel known as the Black Family Channel. There was also a copy of the full 18-page E-mail Discovery Memorandum itemizing the number of times racial slurs showed up in some of the companies' office correspondence. Were Gary and his legal team just plain stupid, completely incompetent or crooked? They compiled over 2,000 contracts showing that white concert promoters had a zero to 10% deposit requirement to secure an act for a concert promotion, while black concert promoters were required to pay a 50% deposit to secure an act they wanted to promote. Designed & Developed by. Willie Gary | Encyclopedia.com [5], In 1995, Gary filed a lawsuit on behalf of Mississippi funeral home operator Jeremiah Joseph O'Keefe against Canadian businessman Raymond Loewen after Loewen reneged on a contractual agreement with O'Keefe. This led to a complicated series of events that led to Mr. Rowe being falsely arrested and imprisoned for 115 days. Gary responded, "I don't know what that judge was thinking, he's a racist and there was no way we were going to win no matter what evidence was submitted." They also pulled hundreds of contracts showing where white concert promoters were given the opportunity to promote black artists, but found none showing where black concert promoters were ever given the opportunity to promote a white artist. The fact that the Coke 17 never received any settlement funds does not mean that Willie Gary and his firm hadn't received large amounts of Coca-Cola money. We have a passion for helping our community and clients through trying times by standing up for their rights when no one else can. Realizing more legal help was needed, Mr. Rowe, after seeing a segment on 60 Minutes II about Willie Gary, invited him to join the legal team. In May 2002, he was featured in Ebony magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans. Forbes Magazine has listed him as one of the Top 50 attorneys in the U.S. Gary has been featured in many of the nations most respected media publications, such as The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, Ebony, Jet, People, Black Enterprise, Fortune, The New Yorker and The National Law Journal. Attorney Gary, in my opinion, is detrimental to the American public and a disgrace to the legal profession." Despite alluding to an expected jury trial on numerous occasions throughout the litigation, he dismissed the Civil Rights Action against the remaining defendants on January 5, 2005. Our experience and resources will provide you with the best possible legal counsel, [9], Gary is a member of the American Bar Association, National Bar Association, and NAACP. Ajamu joined his brother, Wiley Bridgeman, and co-defendant, Ricky Jackson, in being freed. Plaintiff v Enterprise Bank - $195k. [6][7] The Loewen funeral company case is set to become a movie starring Jamie Foxx. Among other things, the confidentiality agreement provided "that the Gary firm would not solicit or accept any new clients who were employees of Company A or Company B for the purpose of pursuing good-faith negotiations and settlement with Company A for the specified period, and that Company A would offer a certain amount of money towards a global settlement (i.e. The remaining $6.7 million was divided among the 42 Plaintiffs in a structured settlement to be paid out in annuities over several years. Garys amazing success has earned him national recognition as one of this countrys leading trial attorneys. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . His vast appeal stems from his desire to be the best and a passionate work ethic he learned through his humble beginnings. He loved to tout his rise from a childhood in poor, Southern farm communities to Ebony magazine's list of "100 Most Influential Black Americans." He represented the underdogs, taking down corporate titans with the rhetorical flourishes of a revivalist preacher and winning eye-popping financial judgments. Willie Gary has not been elected into the Hall . His wife, Gloria Royal, was a teacher and a mother figure. Court vacates cut in Willie Gary's child support It was now the middle of March 2003. At last count, Florida attorney Willie Gary raked in roughly $1 million a month. His remarkable legal career and tireless work on behalf of his clients have been well documented on 60 Minutes, the CBS Evening News, and ABCs World News Tonight with Peter Jennings. He also made a guest appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and made a live appearance on CBSs The Early Show with Bryant Gumbel. The firms office is located on the St. Lucie River in historic downtown Stuart, Florida and is also the former Pelican Hotel where Gary worked as a dishwasher during his teenage years. His first mega-win came in 1995 when he won a funeral home owner a $500 million judgment (later reduced to . According to the various online resources (Wikipedia, Forbes, IMDB), the most popular Attorney Willie E. Gary estimated a net worth of around $215 Million. #5 of 48. Edward Wayne Edwards. One of Leonard's relatives submitted a question. Gary made it clear to Rowe that what these companies have gotten away with is horrendous and an affront to the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. In that request, according to footnote 3 in the judge's order, "Plaintiffs sought, for inspection and photocopying, the production of any documents that are in the possession, custody, or control of Defendants' attorney that: 1) regard Plaintiffs as former clients of Defendants; 2) that evidence any money that Defendants received from Company A or from Company B from 2000 to the present, along with all form 1099s and W-2s that Defendants received from those companies during that time; 3) are agreements, deals, or contracts that Defendants entered into with Company A or any Company-A-affiliated entity and/or with Company B or any Company-B-affiliated entity from 2000 to the present.". In so doing, he provided the ammunition proving Gary's fraud and allowing Rowe to indict Gary. He has tried cases in 45 states and is in great demand as a motivational speaker throughout the U.S., delivering speeches at law schools, universities, churches, chambers of commerce and to various groups throughout the country and abroad. Washington discovered documents that showed Gary completely and knowingly subverted the Civil Rights Action by: Outraged by Washington's discoveries, Rowe continued his Pro Se legal efforts and decided to place hundreds of millions of dollars in liens against defendants, their law firms and individual attorneys that took part in defrauding him and the other Plaintiffs. willie gary famous cases. Phil Spector and the Murder of Lana Clarkson. In 1991, Gary pledged $10.1 million to his alma mater Shaw University. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Willie Gary - YouTube By peter. He has won some of the largest jury awards and settlements in U.S. history, including cases valued in excess of $30 billion. Defendants Willie Gary, Maria Sperando, Sekou Gary, Lorenzo Williams and the Gary Law Firm have until Monday, September 26, 2016 to respond to the new complaint filed on May 9, 2016. Florida trial lawyer Willie Gary has submitted two tapes to a court overseeing a civil suit alleging he raped a woman. That is no longer the case. Upon information and belief and the way Gary has operated in the past, it is believed Gary and his cohorts received millions of dollars from that category. Attorney Willie E. Gary earned the reputation as "The Giant Killer" by taking down some of America's most well- known corporate giants on behalf of his clients. In June, the IRS accused "Little House on the Prairie" star Melissa Gilbert of failing to pay more than $360,000 in federal income taxes. To compound their error, the Gary Lawyers submitted memorandum to the court without any attempt to describe it or otherwise lay a foundation for its admission into evidence. On August 1, 2014, on his 63rd birthday, Leonard Rowe was released from prison. Maria Sperando, a partner in the Gary Law Firm asked Mr. Rowe to come to their office in Florida to assist in compiling the evidence and preparing the opposition to the defendants' summary judgment motion. Diana Gowins and Gary agreed on the $28,000 figure after she gave birth to Gary's twins in 2000. Ohio Conviction: 1975, Charges Dismissed: 2014. Willy Gary ordered to pay $28,000 a month in child support Willie Gary settled after the judge ruled against his efforts to dismiss the case and plaintiffs attorneys aggressively pursued discovery. Willie Gary & Team. The release pointed out that Callaway had already sold one million Odyssey White Hot 2-Ball putters at a suggested retail price of $225 per putter. But after Gary complained, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Cynthia D. Wright last year cut Gary's [] Debi Thomas and Other Broke Stars of the '80s and '90s: Why So Many Are Touring the world with friends one mile and pub at a time; is heavenly gondola open today. In 2005, forty-two female employees, who Gary had represented in sexual harassment cases against Ford Motor Company and Visteon Corporation (an automotive electronics supplier spun off from Ford Motor in 2000), sued Gary after learning that he had entered into a "secret Agreement" with Ford and Visteon and stolen more than $51.5 million of their settlement money. Nearly 40-percent of Old Tucson Studios, including many of the most-famous wood structures seen in Westerns, was destroyed by fire on April 24, 1995. At the trial, prosecutors charged that "the lawyers directed their staff to tell the clients not to tell anyone about the settlement as a way to cover up the theft.". Instead of acting honestly and apologetically, the funeral home staff lied and said Robertas body was in a condition only suited for a closed casket funeral. Willie Gary was born on November 1, 1978. The Gary Lawyers also told the Civil Rights Plaintiffs that because "attorneys-eyes-only" evidence had to be filed with the court under seal, neither the Civil Rights Plaintiffs nor the general public had access to evidence from the court file. Rundell & Nolan on June 13, 2002 and again on July 17, 2002, sent Plaintiffs mass mailings that mentioned the executed confidentiality agreement for the purpose of pursuing settlement discussions and referenced the inability of Plaintiffs' counsel to meet with or accept any new clients regarding Plaintiffs' claims. Campaign to Stop Legal Malpractice - The Case Against Willie Gary General Electric Capital has sued famed attorney Willie E. Gary and the law firm he founded more than 37 years ago, alleging default on a loan that financed the firm's custom-outfitted Boeing . With his undeniable legal talents combined with the insight and local presence of The Cox Pradia Law Firm, P.L.L.C. By omitting this critical first page, the Gary Lawyers deprived the presiding judge in the Civil Rights Action of virtually any information about the significance of the search results or the racially derogatory emails. . Victims of Celebrity Lawyer Willie Gary, Georgia Mother & Family Memorialize Daughter on 7th Anniversary of Death. willie gary famous cases - bucksnothingbutfinetimepieces.pro to this action formerly represented the Plaintiffs in several sexual harassment lawsuits filed against Company A and Company B [Ford & Visteon]. He has won some of the largest jury awards and settlements in U.S. history, including cases valued in excess of $30 billion. I want to correct Judge Mathis' error and restate the question." Tell them no and get out of there now!" In addition to being a lawyer, philanthropist and motivational speaker, Gary continues to serve on the board of trustees of numerous universities and foundations. For legal representation, the Salazar family has turned to The Cox Pradia Law Firm, P.L.L.C. All rights reserved. $21.9 Million, Thomas v Barton Steel Inc. $4.5 Million, Jennings v Chicago Board of Ed $14.3 Million, Black v Lawnwood Regional $17.7 Million, Cynthia Robinson, as P.R. Eight booking agencies and twenty-six concert promoters, essentially all the booking agencies and white promoters in the concert business, were being sued. British American Tobacco#Canadian class action lawsuit \. Two smaller agencies had already decided to settle. The Garys youngest son, Kobie, also works with his father in the law practice. [12], In 2019, the American Bar Association awarded him the Spirit of Excellence award at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. One Woman Is on Death Row in Kentucky. Attorney. Bougainville Copper#US lawsuit. Their belief in Gary's honesty and hype was shaken to the core with the discovery in 2012-2013 of documents that provided irrefutable evidence that Gary and his firm purposely sabotaged their case. Willie Gary: Con Artist And Crook Par Excellence Willie Gary, Gary, Williams, Parenti, Finney, Lewis, McManus, Watson, & Sperando P.L. Updated Oct 22, 2001, 12:00am EDT. He then stayed out front greeting everyone to answer any questions they may have and to give them a leaflet in case they hadn't gotten one. It has also been learned that Gary personally received gifts of golf equipment of substantial monetary value. Although Rowe thought the settlement was too low, he agreed to it at Gary's urging. When Ray Rogers politely stood up to object to what was happening and ask for the question to be reread, he got shouted down from the podium, sat down and waited for the opportunity to ask the question at the standing microphone. Willie Gary, LLC, 906 A.2d 76 (Del. R.J. Reynolds successfully appealed an eye-popping $23.4 billion verdict Stuart attorney Willie Gary won for the widow of a Pensacola smoker. During the deposition Ms. Mangum was asked three times whether she had received any settlement funds from attorney Willie Gary. Walter E. Ellis. One of 11 children of Turner and Mary Gary, Willie Gary was born July 12, 1947 in Eastman, Georgia and was raised in migrant farming communities in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. The 42 women plaintiffs in the Ford/Visteon case filed their Third Amended Complaint (Civil Action No. Designed & Developed by. 3. Attorney Willie E. Gary is living the American Dream. 4. Last fall, the case went to trial in a Florida court, with Gary and SPS seeking $10 billion in damages. Attorney Willie E. Gary earned the reputation as The Giant Killer by taking down some of Americas most well- known corporate giants on behalf of his clients. Plaintiffs were more determined than ever to secure justice and expunge racial discrimination from the industry and were confident that The William Morris Agency and CAA would fail in their efforts to avoid a jury trial. Upon earning his law degree, Gary returned to Florida with his childhood sweetheart, Gloria, now his wife of over 50 years. Ali earned his Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and is vice president of the Gary Foundation. All rights reserved. The event was billed as a community forum to help victims of Flint's toxic water crisis "discuss their legal rights, ask questions and get answers." The Case Against Willie Gary: Media Coverage 2023 List of class-action lawsuits - Wikipedia Willie Gary, Partner. Intentional infliction of emotional distress. The lawyer who took on the brewery - and won - South Florida Business Carter, said, "The two-decade sentence will make any lawyer stop and think before taking money from a clientThey have lived the high life at our expense." Government Attorneys. Kori Searcy, Mr. Gary's public relations director, was quoted in The Stuart News (3/19/15) stating that Mr. Rowe's lawsuit is "an extortion plot" Plaintiffs immediately responded in a press release: "Since extortion is a state and federal crime, Mr. Gary should call on the police and FBI to arrest Mr. Rowe and everyone working on his case", In her filing with the court, the belligerent Ms. Sperando claimed: "The Plaintiffs are making the most horrific allegations against the undersigned that one can make against an attorney--betrayal of one's own client for moneyNot content to allow the judicial system to resolve their allegations of misconduct against the Defendants, the Plaintiffs have engaged in the most vile, libelous, slanderous and destructive publicity campaign against the Defendants on the internet and in the media", Ms. Sperando added: "Ray Rogers" emailed a letter to the defendants and wrote: 'your outlandish behavior against many of your clients merits your disbarment and imprisonmentYou can choose to recognize and correct the errors of the pastor be disgraced, probably face disbarment, heavy fines and restitution, and many years in prison. Upon leaving the Michigan law firm's office one day, lead plaintiff Patricia Harsen took a file she mistakenly thought was hers. In 2012-2013, Marcus Washington, a William Morris employee suing the company over overt racial discrimination, while researching courthouse documents, uncovered indisputable evidence of fraud and legal malpractice committed by Willie Gary and his law firm to assure the Civil Rights Action could not survive defendants' demands for Summary Judgment. Rowe asked how that could be in light of the E-Discovery Memorandum and the other evidence proving the Civil Rights Plaintiffs' claims. October 24, 1999. Employment Discrimination. THE TRIALS OF WILLIE GARY - Sun Sentinel At his sentencing March 1, prosecutors will drop two more drug charges as part of his plea deal. ", The question that was so threatening to the "celebrities" on the podium was: "Mr. Gary and Judge Mathis, do you believe it is ethical or even legal for a lawyer to accept money and expensive gifts from the defendants he is suing. Attorney Willie Gary is known the world over for filing groundbreaking lawsuits against powerful defendants - and succeeding. Willie Gary. Julissa Brisman: Victim of the Craigslist Killer. The "Giant Killer" Attorney Who has Won over $30 Billion for Clients is North Carolina Central University School of Law, "MILLIONAIRE ALUM SHARES SUCCESS WITH SHAW", "How A Mississippi Funeral Home Showdown Freaked Out The White House", "The Burial: Jamie Foxx to Star in and Produce Amazon Studios' Legal Drama", "Jury sides with tobacco company in $23.6 billion case", "::Attorney Willie E. Gary - WCP Communications Speakers Bureau::", "2003-2004 Bill 5050: Willie E. Gary - South Carolina Legislature Online", "Florida attorney Willie E. Gary to receive ABA 2019 Spirit of Excellence Award", "Touring the High-Roller Suite of Personal Injury Law, Big Willie Style", "The top 20 Richest Lawyers of the World", "Kobie Gary imprisoned after plea in drug case | Video", "Woman Seeks $28,000/Month in Child Support", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Willie_E._Gary&oldid=1134309969, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 18 January 2023, at 01:26. Willie Gary was born in Eastman, Georgia where he was raised in migrant farm communities in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.He is one of eleven children. Northeast Ohio's 50 Most Frustrating Cold Cases The Willie Gary decision has often been cited and discussed on this blog in the context of the arbitrability issue, along with the many subsequent decisions that have been part of its prodigious progeny in the few short years since it . The Aryan Brotherhood. Gary, Williams, Parenti, Watson & Gary, P.L.L.C. They joined about 50 supporters for two days last week . Between late February and October 2003, the Gary Law Firm filed opposing memoranda, affidavits and Rule 56.1 statements that did not comply with applicable court rules and failed to cite admissible evidence in support of the Civil Rights Plaintiffs' claims. Text. Based upon an ongoing investigation into Mr. Gary's proven and alleged fraudulent activities and claims made by former Coca-Cola employees and clients of Mr. Gary, it appears likely that a substantial portion of Coca-Cola settlement funds ended up in Mr. Gary's pockets without the knowledge of his clients. Gary is an attorney in Stuart, Florida. Designed & Developed by, Brantley v Presbyterian Hosp $3.1 Million, McCullough V Nalle Clinic $10.3 Million, Ashley Smith v Alton Thomas Jr. M.D. The Callaway Case and events surrounding it deserve more investigation especially because of the rewards accrued to Callaway Golf and Willie Gary during the same time period Ford/Visteon employees, Rowe et al and Coca-Cola racial discrimination victims were being victimized by Gary. Along with Rogers, they were peacefully handing out fliers headlined "WARNING: PROTECT FLINT FROM FURTHER HARM. Unless they paid a high price, they would continue business as usual. The two attorneys, according to the Lexington Herald Leader (8/18/09), were convicted of "taking about $94 million from a $200 million fen-phen settlement that should have gone to their former clients" The lawyers used the stolen riches to finance a lavish life-style which included expensive homes, cars, thoroughbred racehorses and entertainment at the expense of some 440 client-victims. Delray Beach man awarded $157M in husband's tobacco death Gary won the case, with a jury awarding O'Keefe $500 million in punitive damages; . Plaintiff v Tote Maritime - undisclosedWillie Gary, Cynthia Robinson, as P.R. At the same time, Gary representatives were handing out glossy literature promoting Willie Gary's legal services and TV Judge Greg Mathis. Most Infamous Convicted and Alleged Mommy Murderers in History The event had been advertised in a colorful flier with Willie Gary pictured, arms outstretched standing in front of one of his jet airplanes, alongside a picture of Judge Mathis who was serving as the master of ceremonies. Includes Address (16) Phone (11) Email (3) See Results. CONTACT US (888) 505-4279 info@garylawgroup.com . . He is dishonest, immoral and a fraudster. Does this smell like a mutually beneficial extortion/bribe deal? Defendants informed Plaintiffs that Defendants could not reveal the percentages that their individual awards comprised in relation to the total settlement or what other Plaintiffs were individually offered. He was born on July 12, 1947, in Eastman, GA. His parents were Turner (sharecropper) and Mary Gary. Three times she stated that she had not. Willie Geist. What is touched upon here is perhaps just the tip of the iceberg. As such, the Rule 56.1 statements were the most critical aspect of the papers submitted in opposition to motions for summary judgment. It wasn't until 2015 that Rowe learned how Ravelo, while a partner at Clifford Chance and later Hunton & Williams, had defrauded them. When a judge ordered Mr. Rowe to drop the liens, he refused to do so. In a December 6, 2013 letter to Frank Digon, counsel for The Florida Bar, Mr. Rowe detailed how Gary defrauded him and other plaintiffs in his case out of millions of dollars and even charged his clients "$20,000 every time he used his personal airplane for travel" without their consent. In the late 1990s, federal agents seized most of Nelson's property and alleged a $32 million tax debt. The pastor of the church, Rev. Willie Gary could write the definitive lawyer's handbook on "How to Cheat and Steal From Your Clients." When questioned whether this was legal, Rundell stated that' Willie [Gary] is doing things that no other attorney has thought of doing and, believe me, he has himself covered.'". On November 23, 2003, attorneys for the 42 women plaintiffs served the Gary Law firm with a request for production of documents under the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure. The year 2003 was approaching and the discovery phase of the case was coming to a close. In January 2005, a Business Wire news release reported that "The lawsuitwill now be dismissed by the parties with no admission of any wrongdoingthe terms are confidential" Copies of G Update newsletters dated Summer 2006 and 2007 published by the Gary law firm described Callaway Golf, along with Outback Steakhouse, as the sponsors for Willie Gary events including the Willie Gary Celebrity Golf Classic. In the past, he has won a $500 million case against The Loewen Group, one of the world's largest funeral chains, a $240 million trial against Walt Disney Corporation, and many, many more. The Mystery: Joe Kupchik's body was discovered on the pavement below a parking deck in downtown Cleveland, around 1 in the . Despite the slogan, "Trust The Team At The Willie Gary Law Firm," Gary and some of his colleagues, over the past 20 years, have defrauded numerous clients out of untold millions of dollars and prevented justice for large numbers of victims of racial and gender discrimination and other serious crimes.