Workplace Discrimination

LaSalle Lofton, Jr., a Black supervisor at the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation, settled his racial discrimination and harassment lawsuit for $1,300,000. Lofton alleged that two Caucasian supervisors subjected him to repeated racial slurs, physical assault including choking, and retaliation after he reported their misconduct. The complaint detailed how Manager Elton Howerton allegedly used the n-word at least 10 to 15 times in the workplace and how Supervisor Peter German allegedly attacked Lofton while intoxicated, grabbing his throat with both hands. After Lofton reported these incidents, he claimed the City demoted him and interfered with his promotional opportunities. The case settled before the scheduled May 2022 trial date.

A federal jury in Colorado awarded $11.6 million to Rehab Mohamed, a former employee of the Society for Human Resource Management, after finding that SHRM terminated her because of her race and in retaliation for her discrimination complaints. The verdict included $1.6 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages. Mohamed, a 34-year-old Egyptian Arab woman, alleged her supervisor treated her more strictly than white colleagues and fired her after she complained about racial bias.

In a landmark employment retaliation case, Dr. Kristen Wheldon, a respected clinical psychologist, reached a $5.75 million settlement with the City of Los Angeles after alleging whistleblower retaliation and workplace discrimination. Dr. Wheldon claimed city officials punished her for reporting serious ethical and procedural violations, leading to her demotion, isolation, and emotional distress. Her lawsuit cited violations under California’s Labor Code Section 1102.5 and the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). The City denied wrongdoing but agreed to the multimillion-dollar settlement before trial, marking a major victory for employee whistleblower protections in the public sector.