LA County Fire Dept. Settles Discrimination Suit for $635,127

Case Background

In a high-profile employment dispute that captured public attention, former Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD) employee Anderson Mackey took legal action against the County of Los Angeles and the LACFD. Mackey filed his initial complaint in February 2023, initiating a lawsuit that alleged a pattern of serious misconduct within the prominent public safety agency.

The core of Mackey’s complaint asserted that the LACFD failed to maintain a workplace free from illegal discrimination and retaliation, a mandatory duty under state law. Mackey claimed the department subjected him to disparate treatment because of his status as a protected employee, and then systematically targeted him when he spoke up about the unfair working conditions and policies he experienced. The legal battle centered on proving that the adverse employment actions the department took against him were not legitimate management decisions but were instead illegal acts of discrimination and retribution for his protected activities.

Cause

The lawsuit, filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, detailed specific violations of California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). The legal action rested on multiple, connected claims that the Defendants had created an intolerable and hostile workplace environment.

Disparate Treatment Mackey contended the department treated him unfairly compared to other employees, alleging that the LACFD discriminated against him in the terms, conditions, and privileges of his employment. These claims suggested that management subjected him to different standards, disciplinary measures, or career limitations that did not apply to colleagues outside of his protected class.

Retaliation A major component of the case involved retaliation. Mackey claimed that once he reported the perceived discri