Facts

In March 2016, Mohammad Habib, a Muslim and Afghan male born in Iran, applied to the San Francisco Police Department for a position as an officer. Three months later, Habib was accepted as a recruit and completed his field training at the Northern Station. After Habib completed his training, he was transferred to the Central Station and began his one-year probationary period. On August 29, 2018, Habib filed suit in San Francisco Superior alleging Fair Employment and Housing Act violations against the City and County of San Francisco.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS: Plaintiff contended that once he was transferred to Central Station, he was subjected to harassing comments, conduct, and communications from both his supervisors and co-officers because of his race, religion, and national origin. Examples of such conduct included, his locker being graffitied with "ISIS go back," being made fun of for wearing traditional Afghani clothing, and a plethora of terrorist or bomb "jokes." Though plaintiff was finally transferred to another station, Richmond, he still encountered the same officers who had harassed him who also happened to be friends with the Central Station officers. Consequently, the harassment persisted.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS: Defendant denied plaintiff's material allegations, noting that plaintiff had failed to note on his application that he had been terminated by the Oakland Police Department for dishonesty.

Result

The case settled for $455,000.