Carmen Sabater

Carmen Sabater graduated from Concordia College in Bronxville, NY and earned her law degree from Ventura College of Law. Ms. Sabater began her advocacy in vigorously pursuing to protect the civil and constitutional rights of others when she was 20 years old and sworn in as an NYPD Police Officer. Ms. Sabater’s recent accolades include being selected to the Southern California Rising Star list for 2019 and 2020.

OVERVIEW OF EXPERIENCE

During Ms. Sabater’s career as a police officer, her experiences ranged from patrolling the streets in New York to preparing cases for arraignment at the Bronx Criminal Courthouse to working in the elite Organized Crime Control Bureau (OCCB) as an undercover officer. Once she retired, she got her paralegal certification. While in law school, she became a certified mediator by the Ventura Center for Dispute Settlement. Ms. Sabater is well versed in dispute resolution, understanding that parties can sometimes be well served by early settlement as an alternative to litigation and trial. However, in cases where trial is necessary, Ms. Sabater has been a fierce advocate in assisting the team at V. James DeSimone Law achieve trial victory after trial victory on behalf of their clients.

Ms. Sabater interned at V. James DeSimone’s former law firm during law school and was an integral part of a team that represented Allen Harris, a disabled man who was the victim of excessive force by the LAPD, resulting in a $1,686,000 verdict. She brought to the case her expertise in police practices and policies. Her experience is invaluable in prosecuting cases on behalf of individuals who have been harmed by police misconduct, including wrongful death, excessive force, malicious prosecution, and false arrest. Ms. Sabater also used her experience to assist in resolving and prosecuting employment cases on behalf of those subjected to discrimination, harassment, or unlawful employment practices.

From 2015 to the present, Ms. Sabater has participated in numerous Mediations with Jim DeSimone achieving seven-figure settlements. In 2018 Ms. Sabater second chaired Jim DeSimone in the case of Maria Lopez v. CIA Wheel Group, et al. This was a challenging cancer discrimination case because, in the first trial, Maria succumbed to her cancer. Wanting justice for Maria, the second trial proceeded with Maria’s three children as her successors in interest, and V. James DeSimone Law achieved a verdict of $15,000 in economic damages and $500,000 in punitive damages. Then in 2019, Ms. Sabater second chaired V. James DeSimone in the case of Nicole Birden v UC Regents where the jury found UC Regents liable for racial harassment and awarded $1,585,000 in damages and the trial judge awarded an additional $808,000 in Attorneys’ Fees.

Additionally Ms. Sabater has authored an article in the Advocate-Employment issue pertaining to “Trial Strategies in Employment Cases.” Ms. Sabater has also participated as a speaker on a CELA panel on the topic, “Lessons Learned from Winning,” and  also in a CELA webinar as a speaker on the topic, “Constructively Calling Out Racism.”

As a Los Angeles civil rights lawyer, Ms. Sabater continues to pursue her passion for representing those who have been victims of civil rights and constitutional violations and is Of Counsel to V. James DeSimone Law. She is looking forward to achieving more justice as well as advocating for new policies and procedures as proactive preventive measures to improve police and government services.

Carmen Sabater was selected to the Southern California Rising Star list from 2019 to 2024, an honor reserved for 2.5% of attorneys who exhibit excellence in practice. Ms. Sabater represents people in employment, civil rights, and personal injury matters. After retiring as a Police Officer with the New York Police Department, Ms. Sabater turned to law. She began her legal career by getting certified as a paralegal and certified as a mediator by the Ventura Center for Dispute Settlement. While in law school, Ms. Sabater interned with Jim DeSimone, now V. James DeSimone Law, and was part of the team that obtained a $2 million verdict in an excessive force case against the LAPD. Once she was admitted to the California Bar in 2015, she vigorously began advocating for justice for the clients at V. James DeSimone Law and has participated in Mediations with Jim DeSimone achieving seven-figure Settlements. Ms. Sabater has also second chaired Jim DeSimone in two trials achieving victories of 515,000 thousand dollars and 1.58 million dollars. Ms. Sabater’s cross-examination skills in depositions and her pursuit of evidence in discovery provides the groundwork for the firm in police misconduct, sexual harassment, and discrimination cases.

FUN Facts-

• Sabater’s daughter sort of followed in her mom’s foot step’s by playing a cop on television- Bosch Legacy.
• Also, she completed a NYC Film school program prior to becoming a police officer with the NYPD.
• She is also a certified Hypnotist.