Facts

Kelly Meek was a police officer for Red Bluff. However, she was terminated after an investigation stemming from an accident involving her friend, revealed Meek lied and failed to report the accident was alcohol-related. She then sued the police department for gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation, claiming she was wrongfully terminated and discriminated against during her employment.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Meek claimed she did not make false statements about her friend's alcohol level during the accident. Rather, she claimed the department wanted to fire her because she was female, especially because she had made a complaint about the lack of locker rooms for females. She claimed to have been subjected to inappropriate comments by a male officer, that she was given the worst patrol car, that a sergeant was mean to her because she was female, and that she was inadequately trained compared to the male officers. Meek's counsel further argued she always received excellent performance evaluations, and that the terms and conditions of her employment led the EEOC to conclude there was disparate treatment because she was female.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
The police department argued Meek was barred from contesting her termination because she did not appeal the final decision. Defendant further argued Meek never complained about sexual harassment or discrimination until she filed the lawsuit, and that she never complained of such things on any annual reports. The police department claimed it had other female officers who worked without incident and that the EEOC investigator was biased and predeposed to find gender discrimination.

Damages

Meek sought $560,000 for emotional distress, lost wages, lost benefits, and the loss of value of her house. She claimed she had to sell her home at below market because the wide publicity from her case made it dangerous for her to live there any longer. The police department disputed these contentions, arguing she wanted to move anyway.

Result

The case settled for $30,000, which included attorney fees and costs.