Practice Area
Public Entity Law
When a municipality faces a crisis — a catastrophic wildfire, a contaminated water supply, an opioid epidemic devastating its residents — it needs a legal team that understands both the law and the unique constraints of governing. Singleton Schreiber is the "go-to" firm for cities, counties, and public agencies facing high-stakes litigation, with attorneys who have practiced public law in California for more than two decades in complex, high-profile matters.
Our team includes attorneys who have served in the San Francisco City Attorney's office, Calaveras County Counsel's office, Ohio Attorney General's office, Yolo County Counsel's office, and the San Mateo County District Attorney's office. That in-house government experience sets us apart — we understand firsthand how strained municipal resources are, and the unique way litigation works with governmental agencies. Our public entity lawyers serve as special outside counsel from the beginning of a crisis through final settlement.
From the Attorney
Justice for Each Client. Stronger Communities.
Gerald Singleton discusses how Singleton Schreiber partners with public entities — from the first days of a crisis through final resolution — and why in-house government experience makes the difference in high-stakes municipal litigation.
Contact Our Team →Scope of Representation
Our Firm Works With Municipalities On
When Communities Are Put at Risk
Types of Environmental Impacts & Disasters
Year after year, large corporations, utilities, and oil companies violate environmental laws and put the health and safety of millions at risk. Whether it's oil spills, natural gas leaks, water contamination, wildfires, chemical exposure, or some other hazard, residents in communities of every size are constantly exposed to harmful and toxic substances.
Seen as trusted advocates, our legal team provides expert analysis on the legal and environmental impact of these disasters and helps local agencies sort through the recovery process — from the first emergency response through final settlement.
Leading Fire Litigation Firm
Wildfire Litigation
Wildfires are becoming more prevalent and cause large-scale damage to urban, suburban, and rural communities alike. After a wildfire, public entities need to recover damages related to flooding, water contamination, road and infrastructure repair, staff time, emergency services, and the overall strain on public resources.
On average, wildfires destroy nearly 5 million acres in America every year. Singleton Schreiber is recognized nationally as a leading fire litigation firm, having recovered over $3 billion across more than 30 wildfires in multiple states. Our attorneys have represented the counties of Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Yuba, Butte, and Nevada, as well as the cities and towns of Napa, Santa Rosa, Clearlake, and the Town of Paradise — recovering $1 billion from PG&E alone following the devastating 2017 and 2018 California wildfires.
Holding Drug Manufacturers Accountable
Pharmaceutical & Drug Manufacturer Litigation
Every day, consumers and communities place their trust in those who manufacture, market, prescribe, and distribute drugs — with the assumption that these companies want to help, not harm. Unfortunately, drug companies are not always transparent, and have shown a willingness to put potentially harmful drugs into the hands of vulnerable, trusting patients.
Public entities bear the downstream cost of the opioid epidemic and other pharmaceutical harms — strained emergency services, healthcare systems, social services, and law enforcement resources. Singleton Schreiber represents municipalities pursuing accountability and recovery from the manufacturers and distributors responsible.
Emerging Litigation
PFAS & Forever Chemicals
PFAS — "forever chemicals" — contaminate water supplies and require costly testing, treatment, and infrastructure upgrades by public water systems. Singleton Schreiber represents public entities pursuing recovery from PFAS manufacturers for the costs their communities have been forced to bear.
Our team works with municipalities from the moment contamination is discovered — coordinating with environmental experts, public health officials, and water districts to build cases that recover the true cost of protecting community drinking water for generations to come.
Emerging Litigation
Social Media Litigation
Singleton Schreiber is at the forefront of social media litigation on behalf of public entities — pursuing accountability for the community-wide harms linked to platform design and algorithmic amplification, including impacts on youth mental health, public safety resources, and community wellbeing.
This is among the fastest-evolving areas of public entity litigation, and our team stays ahead of the curve so municipalities don't have to navigate it alone — bringing the same resources and resolve to this emerging frontier that we bring to wildfire, environmental, and pharmaceutical litigation.
Our Team
A Powerhouse Roster of Public Entity Attorneys
Served as lead counsel for the City of San Bruno against PG&E following the natural gas pipeline explosion that killed 8 people and destroyed over 40 homes — resulting in a record-setting $1.6 billion fine.
Extensive litigation and trial experience representing public entities against utilities, transportation, and oil refinery industries in high-stakes recovery matters.
Represents counties, cities, and special districts in environmental and mass tort litigation, bringing deep experience navigating government resource constraints and complex multi-party litigation.
In-House Government Experience
We've Sat On Your Side of the Table
Our attorneys have served inside the agencies they now represent — giving us a firsthand understanding of strained municipal budgets, the political realities of public litigation, and how to move complex cases forward without overwhelming your staff.
Common Questions
Public Entity Law FAQ
Public entity law involves representing cities, counties, and other government agencies in high-stakes litigation — including recovering damages after environmental disasters, pharmaceutical and opioid litigation, PFAS contamination, and social media-related harms to communities.
Public entities can recover damages related to flooding, water contamination, road and infrastructure repair, staff time, emergency services costs, and the general strain wildfires place on public resources. Singleton Schreiber has recovered $1 billion from PG&E on behalf of counties and cities affected by California wildfires.
Singleton Schreiber's attorneys have served in the San Francisco City Attorney's office, Calaveras County Counsel's office, Ohio Attorney General's office, Yolo County Counsel's office, and the San Mateo County District Attorney's office. This in-house government experience gives the firm a unique understanding of how litigation works with strained municipal resources.
PFAS, or "forever chemicals," contaminate water supplies and require costly remediation by public water systems. Public entities can pursue litigation against PFAS manufacturers to recover the costs of testing, treatment, and infrastructure upgrades needed to protect their communities.
Singleton Schreiber has represented the counties of Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Yuba, Butte, and Nevada, as well as the cities and towns of Napa, Santa Rosa, Clearlake, and the Town of Paradise, in litigation related to the devastating 2017 and 2018 California wildfires.
For Government Agencies & Municipalities
Justice for Each Client. Stronger Communities.
If your municipality is facing a crisis or considering litigation, contact our team to discuss how we can help.
Contact Our Team →