Patrick Buelna

PATRICK BUELNA is a civil rights attorney specializing in law enforcement misconduct. He has succeeded in winning many of the highest verdicts and settlements in police abuse cases. Buelna won a $21 Million verdict in a federal jury trial in 2022 against the Fremont Police Department for the officer shooting of Elena Mondragon. He won a $6 Million verdict in 2021 against the San Jose Police Department for officers striking a man with a police car that was running away.

He has secured many of the highest settlements in police abuse cases throughout California. In 2023, Buelna had the Number 1 Settlement in Jail Abuse in California in the case of Maurice Monk who was denied medical care leading to his death causing the County of Alameda to settle for $7 million – which also resulted in permanent training and policy changes within the Santa Rita jail. The case continues against the health care provider in the jail WellPath.

Recently, Buelna was named one of Daily Journal’s Top 100 Lawyers in its 2024 issue.

Buelna co-founded Lawyers For The People out of a longstanding commitment to serve people and communities that have been under represented and under resourced. Before dedicating his career to civil rights work, Buelna spent a year living and teaching at an orphanage in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was also a public school teacher in the Bronx, New York City for the Teach For America program. 

In 2023 and 2024, Buelna was selected as a Rising Star by SuperLawyers which is awarded to only 2.5% of attorneys. Buelna has spoken at Stanford Law School, U.C. Hastings Law School and other venues regarding civil rights trials and strategy.

Education:

St. Mary’s College of California – High Honors

UC Law San Francisco – Honors

Instagram: @lawyersftp