Employment Discrimination Labor And Employment Law

The Tramil v. City and County of San Francisco lawsuit began in 2019 after former employee Mary Tramil alleged the City violated the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). The complaint asserted that the City had failed to engage in a mandatory interactive process and refused to provide reasonable accommodations for her physical disability, ultimately leading to her wrongful discharge. Tramil sought lost wages, benefits, and compensation for emotional distress. The CCSF denied all liability, citing various immunities and arguing that its actions were reasonable and non-discriminatory. After years of litigation, the parties reached a negotiated settlement, concluding the case for $230,000.

The San Bernardino County Superior Court jury delivered a major verdict in favor of former employee Amelia Russell in her suit against Spray Enclosure Technologies, Inc., and co-defendant Melanie Helzer. Filed in 2019, Ms. Russell's lawsuit centered on claims of serious employment violations, including Hostile Work Environment Harassment based on gender, Gender Discrimination, Retaliation, and Wrongful Termination. The defendants had denied all claims, asserting they acted lawfully. Following the trial, which unfolded over several weeks, the jury returned a Special Verdict in November 2024. The jury found that the company had engaged in unlawful conduct and awarded Ms. Russell $575,935 in compensatory damages for her economic losses and emotional distress. Crucially, the jury also found that the defendants' conduct involved malice, oppression, or fraud, and subsequently awarded an additional $100,000 in punitive damages, bringing the final total judgment to $675,935.

Plaintiff Anderson Mackey brought a lawsuit against the County of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Fire Department, a public entity employer. The original complaint, filed in February 2023, alleged claims primarily related to employment disputes, including an inferred claim of disability discrimination and other related statutory violations against the public entity. The Defendants filed their Answer in May 2023. The matter was ultimately resolved through negotiation, evidenced by the filing of a Notice of Settlement of Entire Case in November 2024, followed by a Court Order acknowledging the notice in January 2025. The case concluded with a full settlement.

The lawsuit, Valerie Busch v. County of Los Angeles (Case No. 21STCV27869), began in July 2021 when former County employee Valerie Busch asserted that the County had violated the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). The Plaintiff, who had a physical disability, claimed the County failed to engage in the legally mandated good-faith interactive process and refused to provide reasonable accommodations, leading to her eventual termination. Ms. Busch sought substantial damages for lost wages and significant emotional distress. The County denied liability, arguing its HR processes were compliant and that the Plaintiff’s requests for accommodation were unreasonable. Just prior to trial, after intense mediation, the parties reached a final, binding settlement. The County of Los Angeles agreed to pay Valerie Busch $175,000 to resolve all claims, formally closing the litigation.

Anne L. Olear, a veteran teacher with 46 years in Waterbury schools, claimed the district misled her into retiring and then discriminated against her by refusing to rehire her after posting her position. She argued her age was the real reason she lost the job, while the district insisted it followed standard hiring procedures. After a trial in November 2024, a jury found no evidence that age played a role in the decision. The verdict went to the Waterbury Board of Education, leaving Olear without damages in her discrimination and misrepresentation lawsuit.

In an ERISA case over denied mental health benefits, the court ruled for plaintiff Dan C., finding the Directors Guild of America–Producer Health Plan improperly denied coverage. The judgment orders payment of owed benefits with interest, allows attorney’s fees, and addresses breaches of fiduciary duties, parity law violations, and improper claim review practices.

Berta Cifuentes, a longtime employee at Costco’s Goleta warehouse, claimed she was wrongfully terminated after correcting a minor timekeeping error. Diagnosed with depression and anxiety, she said the company ignored her requests for accommodations and used the clock-in discrepancy as a pretext to fire her. Cifuentes filed suit alleging disability discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination. At trial, her attorneys presented surveillance footage and expert testimony suggesting the termination was pre-planned. Costco countered with arguments that she had violated company policy and had never formally requested accommodations. After deliberation, the jury sided with Costco on all claims, awarding no damages. The case highlighted complex issues around workplace disability rights, employer policies, and retaliation protections.

Joann Sakurada won a $1.5 million jury verdict against Keyes Community Services District for wrongful termination, disability discrimination, and CFRA violations. The jury found that Sakurada was fired because of her knee condition and the defendant failed to accommodate her or engage in a good-faith interactive process. They also concluded that the employer interfered with her medical leave rights and retaliated against her for requesting accommodations.

A Los Angeles jury awarded $27.5 million to Nancy Valla, a former nurse executive at St. Mary Medical Center, operated by Dignity Health. Valla alleged she was retaliated against and constructively terminated after pushing for suicide-prevention measures following a tragic death on hospital grounds. She also sought accommodations for PTSD and depression, which she claimed were denied. The jury found that Dignity Health had discriminated against her and failed to accommodate her mental health disability. The swift and unanimous verdict delivered a clear rebuke of the hospital’s treatment of a whistleblower and healthcare professional seeking workplace support.

On September 22, 2021, Plaintiff Lindsay Okownowsky filed a workplace discrimination and harassment lawsuit in the United States District Court, California Central (Case number: 2:22cv422). This case was assigned toJudge Mark C. Scarsi and referred to Magistrate Judge Alka Sagar. Lindsay Okonowsky, a GS-12 Staff Psychologist at FCI Lompoc, a federal correctional institution under the Department of Justice, sued the U.S. Attorney General and the Federal Bureau of Prisons for workplace discrimination and harassment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The lawsuit stemmed from social media harassment by Lieutenant Steven Hellman, who managed an Instagram page called “8_and_hitthe_gate.” The page featured sexist and vulgar content, much of which directly targeted Okonowsky. Despite her repeated complaints, the Bureau of Prisons failed to take timely or e

On September 12, 2023, Plaintiff Jane Doe filed a workplace discrimination lawsuit in the United States District Court, Florida Southern (Case number: 1:23cv23497). This case was assigned to Judge Beth Bloom and referred to Ch. Magistrate Judge Edwin G. Torres. On May 20, 2022, Jane Doe visited Tootsie's Cabaret, a strip club in Miami, to ask about employment as an entertainer. A manager named Christian hired her without requiring an audition. The next day, she filled out new hire paperwork. Another manager, Fernando Otero, gave her a tour of the venue. During the tour, Otero pointed out that the VIP rooms had no cameras. He then made a suggestive comment, implying that illicit activities were expected in those rooms. Shortly after starting work, Doe experienced a hostile work environment.

Princess Obienu filed an employment discrimination lawsuit against Los Angeles County, (erroneously sued as “County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services"). The lawsuit alleged racial and disability discrimination and wrongful termination which led to lost wages and emotional distress. The case was filed in the California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, with Judges Jon R. Takasugi and Richard E. Rico presiding. [Case number: 19STCV33111] Princess Obienu, an employee of Los Angeles County, began her role as a Health Education Assistant in December 2008. In June 2009, after completing her probationary period, Dr. Lakshmi Makam encouraged her to apply for a Health Educator position. However, the Department of Health Services (DHS) rejected her application, st