LOS ANGELES, May 26 – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network — The Cochran Firm, founded by famed attorney Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., and one of America’s largest personal injury plaintiff’s law firms, has announced it will combine its practice with Imhoff and Associates, one of the nation’s largest and foremost criminal defense firms. The firm will continue to be known as The Cochran Firm.
Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. had the unique legal career of handling some of the nation’s most significant cases in both civil and criminal law. His career included a position in the criminal defense division of the City Attorney’s office in Los Angeles, serving as the Assistant District Attorney for Los Angeles County, as well as litigating civil and criminal cases in private practice. Johnnie’s strength in the courtroom was his dedication to his clients and their protection within the judicial system.
The Cochran Firm-Criminal Defense Section will handle cases in Federal, State, Juvenile and Appellate courts in all 50 states. The attorneys of The Criminal Defense Section will remain committed to handling cases involving most types of criminal charges and employ a team of attorneys, case managers, case analysts, research specialists and investigators who are dedicated to the successful representation of their clients.
Vince Imhoff, Managing Partner of The Cochran Firm-Criminal Defense section, states: “I am privileged to be carrying out Mr. Cochran’s legacy. I have devoted the entirety of my legal profession to helping individuals charged with crimes, enabling them to achieve justice in the legal system. I will commit myself and our attorneys to upholding Mr. Cochran’s reputation of providing quality service to people in need of legal representation.”
Although the O.J. Simpson trial brought Johnnie national recognition, he was accustomed to representing many high-profile clients. In the 1980’s, rape charges were dismissed against football star Jim Brown, and TV star Todd Bridges was acquitted of attempted murder, voluntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon. Johnnie also defended mega-star Michael Jackson against charges of child molestation, and the late rapper Tupac Shakur, who was acquitted of weapons charges.
Johnnie and his firm continue to be some of the most respected and sought- after lawyers in America. He successfully defended hip-hop star Sean “Puffy” Combs, boxing champion Riddick Bowe, rapper Snoop Dogg and basketball star Latrell Spreewell.
The Cochran Firm’s civil case history includes numerous record-setting, multimillion dollar verdicts and settlements including a $700 million judgment and settlement for victims of environmental pollution, and a recent $1.6 billion verdict for a client against an insurance company for breach of contract and fraud. This historical verdict, obtained by Senior partner, Jock Smith, was the largest verdict in the U.S. for the year 2004.
In March 2005, Johnnie Cochran died at the age of 67. More than a celebrity lawyer, he had made an impact on the American justice system. He was relentless in his efforts to make a difference in the community and the lives of the clients he represented.
Representation of clients in both criminal and civil cases throughout his legal profession won Johnnie recognition by the Los Angeles Bar Association. He was the only attorney in Los Angeles ever to receive both the “Criminal Trial Lawyer of the Year,” as well as the “Civil Trial Lawyer of the Year.”
With the merger of these two powerful firms, The Cochran Firm continues to execute Johnnie’s vision of a national law firm capable of handling an even wider scope of legal cases, and will now be able to offer their clients the benefit of one of the most elite combinations of criminal defense and civil plaintiff legal talent and resources available.
