Is there any Lawyer that is willing to help with a Class action law suit to help the residents of Squaw Valley, CA

Question

Is there any Lawyer that is willing to help with a Class action law suit to help the residents of Squaw Valley, CA that are being adversely affected because of State Law AB 2022? They are forcing our unincorporated community to change our name because Native Americans feel Squaw is derogatory. Even Native Americans that live here don't want to change the name. It will cost residents to change all legal documents and businesses are already loosing business because Google addresses our community as Yokuts Valley. Do we have any recourse? The Fresno board of supervisors filed a law suit but it's now on appeal, the Judge said they could not sue in behalf of their constituents. 
 
Any direction on how to pursue this is greatly appreciated.

James L. Arrasmith · Answer

I understand that this is a difficult and upsetting situation for the residents of Squaw Valley who don't want the name change. Pursuing a class action lawsuit is one potential avenue, but there are a few important considerations: 
 
First, you'd need to find a law firm willing to take on the case on a contingency basis, meaning they would only get paid if the lawsuit is successful. Class action suits can be very expensive and time-consuming to litigate. You may need to reach out to multiple law firms that specialize in this type of litigation. 
 
Second, you'd need to clearly demonstrate how AB 2022 is unlawful and is causing direct, quantifiable damages to residents and businesses. The judge dismissing Fresno's lawsuit on the basis that they can't sue on behalf of constituents shows the uphill legal battle this may face. The law firm would need a strong legal theory for why this law should be overturned. 
 
Third, even if a lawsuit is successful, it could potentially take years to resolve, during which time the name change may still go into effect.  
 
Some other potential avenues to explore in parallel: 
 
- Organize residents to lobby state legislators to amend or repeal AB 2022. Show the local opposition and impact. 
- Work with the county to implement the name change in a way that minimizes costs/disruption for residents and businesses. Perhaps set up a fund to defray costs of new documents. 
- Mount a public pressure campaign to show the local Native American support for keeping the name and that the term is not considered offensive in this context. 
 
None of these are easy paths, but a multi-pronged approach of legal action, lobbying, and public advocacy may be needed. I'd suggest starting by identifying law firms specializing in this type of public interest litigation and setting up consultations to assess if this is a case they would take on. I wish you all the best in navigating this challenging situation.

Q: Is there any Lawyer that is willing to help with a Class action law suit to help the residents of Squaw Valley, CA