Ivie Law Firm Secures More Than $27 Million in Landmark Police Abuse Verdict

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By Gloria Zuurveen | The Southern Truth

A federal jury has spoken — and its message was unmistakable.

On February 9, 2026, a unanimous jury awarded $27.35 million to Steffon Barber after finding that a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputy unjustifiably used deadly force against him in 2021. The verdict stands as a powerful reaffirmation that constitutional rights do not disappear at the edge of one’s driveway — or at the sight of a badge.

The jury concluded that Deputy Christopher Alfred acted unreasonably when he fired six shots at Mr. Barber as he slowly exited his own driveway. Evidence showed that Mr. Barber was inside his vehicle, moving at a low speed, and that the deputy had room to reposition rather than open fire. Inconsistencies in the deputy’s own statements further weakened the defense’s case.

The award reflects both the severity and permanence of the harm inflicted:

• $7.25 million for past pain and suffering

• $18.25 million for future pain and suffering

• $1.85 million for future economic losses

Mr. Barber was left wheelchair-dependent, facing lifelong physical, psychological, and financial consequences.

Rodney S. Diggs: The Strategist Who Delivered in the Courtroom

While Rickey Ivie’s leadership set the tone, it was Rodney S. Diggs who carried this case across the finish line — and did so with both legal precision and moral clarity.

Diggs serves as Board President and Managing Partner of Ivie McNeill Wyatt Purcell & Diggs, and co-chairs the firm’s Labor & Employment practice group. But his reach extends far beyond employment law — he maintains a robust civil rights litigation practice, taking on cases like Steffon Barber’s that require not only sharp legal skill, but a deep commitment to justice.

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With extensive trial experience in both federal and state courts, Diggs is known for his strategic approach, commanding courtroom presence, and relentless pursuit of favorable outcomes for his clients. Those qualities were on full display in this case — where careful preparation, compelling presentation of evidence, and steady advocacy helped secure a life-changing verdict for Mr. Barber.

Under Rickey Ivie’s leadership, Diggs represents the next generation of IMW excellence — proof that this firm is not only rooted in history, but built for the future.

His peers have repeatedly recognized his caliber:

• Best Lawyers in America (2023–2026)

• Southern California Super Lawyer (2024–2025)

• Daily Journal’s Top Labor & Employment Lawyers (2021–2025)

• Daily Journal’s Top 100 Lawyers in California (2019, 2022–2024)

• Los Angeles Business Journal – Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Attorneys (2023–2025)

• LA Times B2B Leading Consumer Attorney, Legal Visionary, and DEI Visionary (2023–2025)

• UCLA Alumni Association’s 2024 Bruin Business 100

• IAOTP Top Attorney of the Year (2021)

Beyond accolades, Diggs brings lived discipline and leadership to his work. At Howard University School of Law, he served as Vice President of the Student Bar Association and Chief Justice of Sigma Delta Tau Legal Fraternity. At UCLA, he was an All-Pac 10 and All-American track athlete in the 400m and 4×400 relay — a reminder that his drive, focus, and stamina were forged long before he ever stepped into a courtroom.

His service extends into the community as well, including leadership roles with the Watts Labor Community Action Committee, the John M. Langston Bar Association, and national legal organizations that shape policy and professional standards.

For clients like Steffon Barber, Diggs is not just an attorney — he is a defender, an advocate, and a steward of constitutional rights.

Why This Victory Matters

The announcement of nearly $30 million for his client is not just another headline — it is a testament to why Ivie and his firm remain at the pinnacle of civil rights litigation.

This is the kind of victory that restores not only money, but meaning — not just compensation, but conscience.

It was the original Ivie and McNeill partnership that built a legacy decades ago. Today, that legacy is carried forward by leaders like Rickey Ivie and Rodney Diggs — one anchoring the firm’s foundation, the other expanding its reach.

I have known Mr. Ivie for a very long time. I have watched this debonair, classic Black attorney carry himself with quiet confidence while representing countless clients whose names may never make headlines. And now, through leaders like Diggs, that same excellence continues — sharper, stronger, and just as principled.

“Constitutional Rights Do Not Stop at the Driveway”

In response to the verdict, Rodney Diggs stated:

“This verdict is a powerful affirmation that constitutional rights do not stop at the end of a driveway. The jury carefully weighed the evidence and held law enforcement accountable for a shooting that never should have happened. While no amount of money can restore Mr. Barber’s health or mobility, today’s verdict provides him with dignity, security, and a measure of justice.”

This verdict sends a clear message: lethal force must be justified, proportional, and accountable — whether on a public street or private property.