Department of Fair Employment and Housing v. County of Riverside
Published: Jan. 6, 2004 | Result Date: Oct. 23, 2003 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: RIC352666 Verdict – $460,000
Judge
Court
Riverside Superior
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Bruce E. Disenhouse
(Disenhouse Law APC)
Experts
Plaintiff
John Pedersen
(medical)
Arnold D. Purisch M.D.
(medical)
Defendant
Tony L. Strickland Ph.D.
(medical)
Carol Marusak
(medical)
Charles Gladstein
(medical)
William H. Soltz
(medical)
Facts
William Clark, a sheriff's investigator with the County of Riverside, was executing a search warrant on a home. While in the home, Clark saw a shoe sticking out from under a bed. This prompted him to believe someone was hiding under the bed. When he knelt down to check, a large solid core closet door fell and struck him on the head. Clark took some time off to recover, then returned to work. Over a period of two years, he began having difficulty performing certain duties at work. He also began having mood swings and panic attacks. Clark was eventually placed on disability status. Although he was no longer working, he was still considered an employee of the sheriff's department. As such, he was prohibited from obtaining employment outside of the sheriff's department. Clark filed a grievance with the sheriff's department. He was then granted permission to accept an outside job as a gardener. Clark was then forced to retire from the sheriff's department. He filed a complaint with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. The DFEH sued the county of Riverside, alleging discrimination under the Fair Employment and Housing Act.
Damages
Clark claimed that he suffered a mental disability as a result of the accident. He also claimed that the county of Riverside failed to provide him with a reasonable job.
Result
$460,000
Deliberation
three hours
Poll
12-0
Length
three weeks
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