On December 2, 2022, it was announced that nationally renowned personal injury attorney Bob Hilliard, of Corpus Christi, TX-based firm Hilliard Law, will be joining forces, once again, with nationally known civil rights lawyer, Ben Crump of Tallahassee, FL, representing Emily Proulx, the girlfriend of teenager Erik Cantu, who was shot by a San Antonio police officer outside of a McDonalds in October.
Hilliard and Crump have a history of fighting against social injustices, dating back to 2018 when the team was hired by the family of Danny Ray Thomas, an unarmed black man who was unarmed and shot by police. The lawsuit is still proceeding against the shooting officer in Houston.
The duo partnered again in 2018, bringing legal action against the NBA, the Detroit Pistons, the Grand Rapids Drive, and the DeltaPlex Arena in a wrongful death suit, on behalf of Zeke Upshaw’s mother, Jewel Upshaw. Long Island Nets player, Zeke Upshaw, collapsed during a game and subsequently died. Hilliard and Crump made headlines when a deal was reached in December 2019 with the NBA and the Pistons.
In 2019, Hilliard and Crump, filed a civil lawsuit against the NCAA, Board of Regents, and Coach Robert Davie, Jr. in the U.S. District Court, for the District of New Mexico. The ongoing lawsuit alleged nine claims, including wrongful death, and asserted that 21-year-old University of New Mexico football player Nahje Flowers was discriminated against by defendants, leading to his untimely death.
More recently, Hilliard and Crump took on systemic racism in the banking industry, winning a large settlement against a financial institution that imposed unreasonable standards on its Black customers. The sizable settlements represent victories against the widespread, racist phenomenon known as “Banking While Black.” The settlements provided funds to the victims of discrimination in the banking industry and required the banks to agree to policy changes and education – the first steps in eradicating racism.
“Over the years we’ve uncovered a terrible pattern of racism against people of color,” said Hilliard. “We will continue to hold institutions accountable. I am honored to continue working alongside Mr. Crump in the fight for justice.”
In this most recent Cantu/Proulx matter, Hilliard and Crump once again seek to hold those in power accountable for dangerous and discriminatory actions that imperil the lives of others.
—
ABOUT HILLIARD LAW
Bob Hilliard has led Hilliard Law to the forefront of national trial law firms. Having tried over 100 jury trials, Mr. Hilliard is also a two-time winner of the National Law Journal’s prestigious Elite Trial Lawyer of the Year award, as well as being recognized as a Super Lawyer for the past 18 years. Mr. Hilliard is double board certified and recognized as one of the top 100 trial lawyers in the United States. In the past six months, Hilliard Law’s 40-lawyer firm has already secured over 100 million dollars in verdicts and settlements. For more information, visit https://hilliard-law.com/.
ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW
Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visitbencrump.com.