Facts

On December 4, 2020, Lyn Rawles, who is a Black, disabled, transgender woman, filed suit against the City and County of San Francisco and the San Francisco Sheriff's Department.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS: The plaintiff contended that on November 5, 2019, she attempted to vote at San Francisco City Hall but was denied; that she attempted to file a grievance the next day, but she was assaulted and wrongfully arrested by two sheriff's deputies; that she was held in custody at the county jail at 425 Seventh Street in San Francisco in a booking cell with no bed for days; that the San Francisco Sheriff's Department refuses to house transgender women according to their gender identity; that, as a result of this policy, the plaintiff contended her options were to be housed with men or in solitary confinement; that she was jailed for three days without being charged with a crime; and that she was sexually assaulted and harassed by Department employees under the guise of performing searches. The plaintiff contended she was entitled to recover for battery; assault; sexual battery; intentional interference with her civil rights via unreasonable search and seizure; false arrest and imprisonment; intrusion into private affairs; negligence; and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS: The defendant denied any wrongdoing or liability and all the plaintiff's material allegations.

Result

The parties reached an agreement wherein the defendant admitted no wrongdoing or liability but agreed to pay $200,000 to settle the plaintiff's claims.