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Federal Civil Rights Trial
How we handled The Situation
The legal team representing Mohamed Magassouba had a strong case heading into trial. They engaged EP Studio to build the communications strategy around it.
Magassouba had served more than a decade in the Prince George's County Police Department without a single use-of-force incident. He was terminated in 2021 after refusing to falsify testimony about a white officer's conduct against a Black female civilian. He filed suit in federal court in 2023, alleging race and national origin discrimination and unlawful retaliation, against a county that had already paid $25 million to settle a systemic racism claim brought by Black and Latino officers in the same department two years earlier. The engagement covered media strategy, trial communications, and verdict response.
The Strategy
EP Studio developed a communications strategy built to run parallel to the litigation from pre-trial through verdict.
Legal counsel was prepared for press interactions before the trial began — message alignment, Q&A preparation, and guidance on what to say at every stage. Media outreach targeted reporters and outlets covering civil rights, law enforcement accountability, and federal litigation. Win and loss statements were drafted in advance of the verdict to enable immediate response regardless of outcome.
THe Execution
EP Studio provided background materials, case context, and regular updates timed to procedural developments throughout the trial to sustain accurate coverage and maintain narrative clarity.
Post-verdict, EP Studio coordinated the press conference, spokesperson lineup, onsite logistics, media advisory, and real-time support for counsel and client through the aftermath.
The Results
The jury returned a verdict of $2.35 million in damages against Prince George's County after an eight-day trial. Coverage ran across local and national outlets.
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$2.35 million jury verdict
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8-day federal trial
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Local and national media coverage
