Lochhead, M.D. v. The Regents of the University of California, a public entity

Case Background

On November 11, 2021, Plaintiff Jeannie Lochhead filed a Retaliation lawsuit in the California State, Superior Court of Riverside County (Case number: CVRI2105008).

Cause

Dr. Jeannie Lochhead, formerly a Health Sciences Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Neuroscience at UC Riverside, served from June 30, 2016, to July 6, 2021. During her tenure, she raised serious concerns with her supervisor, Dr. Gerald Maguire, and university compliance officials. These concerns involved the misuse of state funds from the Budget Act of 2018, conflicts of interest with pharmaceutical companies, and patient safety issues. Dr. Lochhead reported that state funds meant for expanding residency programs and telemedicine were misused for faculty salaries and unrelated stipends. She also highlighted Dr. Maguire's problematic relationships with pharmaceutical companies. These included receiving speaking fees and participating in clinical trials while endorsing specific drugs. Additionally, she was concerned about patient safety due to the improper administration of a powerful mind-altering drug. Following these disclosures, Dr. Lochhead faced retaliation. In August 2019, Dr. Maguire removed her from her role as Residency Program Director, resulting in a significant pay cut. She was also excluded from key committees, such as the Program Evaluation Committee, Clinical Competency Committee, and Interview Committee. Furthermore, Dr. Lochhead was removed from the CME Event Organizing Committee and lost teaching and research opportunities. She endured increased scrutiny of her schedule, false complaints about her professionalism, and attempts to alter her ea