Confidential
Settlement – $1,250,000Judge
Court
Contra Costa Superior
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Stanley J. Casper
(Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook)
Defendant
Experts
Plaintiff
Debra Tong
(medical)
Defendant
Penny Harrington
(technical)
Facts
This was a consolidated action in which eight female employees of the defendant police department claimed a hostile work environment based on sexual harassment and discrimination. Six of the plaintiffs are sworn officers who remain employed with the department. The plaintiff's claims included a long history of sexual harassment, perpetrated and condoned by police supervisors, as well as claims for discrimination in the department's training, promotion, and assignment practices. Victims' ages ranged from 27 to 46. The defendant contended that the claims were misjoined, many allegations were long barred by limitations periods and that the allegations did not give rise to actionable harassment claims in any event. Also per the defendant, the city investigated all claims thoroughly and independently and took effective remedial action in those incidents where it found its policies were breached.
Settlement Discussions
The defendant made a C.C.P. º998 offers of compromise for three plaintiffs of $101,000, $101,000 and $51,000 respectively plus statutory fees.
Injuries
All eight plaintiffs claimed emotional distress and were treated by various health care providers.
Other Information
Two mediations were held in July 1998 and January 1999, before retired judge Coleman F. Fannin, of JAMS/Endispute, resulting in settlement.
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