SANTA ANA, CA - The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California once again rejected a request for a new trial in the Flores v. City of Westminster case late last week. Additionally, the Court denied the Defendant's claims that there was not substantial evidence to support the jury's findings and verdict, and the court also awarded MALDEF and co-counsel Alexander Krackow + Glick LLP (AKG) $3.3 million in fees and costs.
"The jury verdict and last week's decisions should stand as a strong deterrent to any agencies that continue to follow outdated and unlawful employment practices," stated Thomas A. Saenz, MALDEF President and General Counsel. "Law enforcement must fully embrace the entire community, including Latinos as the nation's largest and fast-growing minority group."
The initial lawsuit alleged that, despite their stellar performance and qualifications, the Latino officers were relegated to dead-end, second tier assignments, and upon filing formal complaints, experienced workplace retaliation from superiors, a violation of state and federal law. In March 2014, a jury returned a verdict against the City of Westminster and four current and former Chiefs of the Westminster Police Department and in favor of three Latino police officers who experienced racial discrimination and retaliation. In August 2014, the Court upheld the jury's decision awarding $3.34 million in damages to the three Latino officers.
"Consistent with the proof demonstrated at the time of trial, we are pleased that Judge Carter properly denied defendant's post-trial motions, and granted Plaintiffs' request for costs and attorney fees. We trust that the City will heed the unanimous jury verdict, conform their promotion practices to the law and seek to finally resolve this matter," stated J. Bernard Alexander, III, Partner at AKG.
"This was an incredibly hard fought case, with Defendants tenaciously defending what was ultimately an indefensible and biased culture at the Westminster Police Department," stated Martha L. Gomez, MALDEF Staff Attorney. "We are pleased that the Court acknowledged our hard work throughout the litigation. These attorney fees will go to further advance justice in the Latino community."
MALDEF is committed to upholding fair employment practices nationwide. Among the Plaintiffs was an active-duty Major in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he has been promoted four times; a long-serving police officer who received the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Award and Centurion Award; and an officer who was awarded the Bronze medal of merit, including for saving someone's life, and Rookie of the Year award during his first year with the Department.
Although midterm elections too often receive less attention than presidential elections, this November, voters nationwide will cast ballots to elect significant state and national leaders. In addition, important ballot measures will be decided by voters in a number of states. Oregon has a number of significant measures on the ballot. As you can read further below, MALDEF has reviewed the measures and urges you to vote YES on Measures 86, 88, and 89. In particular, MALDEF endorses a YES vote on Measure 88, a measure placed on the ballot by opponents of immigrant integration. I hope that the position endorsements and brief explanations set forth below help you in deciding how to vote on these three important ballot measures. But, however you decide, what is most important is that every eligible voter take the time to decide and VOTE. Thank you.
This proposed constitutional amendment would create an Oregon Student Opportunity Fund to support students attending higher education, including career training.
This measure would provide much-needed additional assistance to students in college. College affordability is increasingly an obstacle to students from all but the wealthiest of families, and in particular is an obstacle for Latino students. This measure would create one means to begin to address affordability concerns.
This referendum measure would approve the Legislature's decision to provide a driver card to eligible persons who are undocumented and unable to prove legal presence.
This measure would increase public and traffic safety by ensuring that all drivers are registered and have met the requirements to demonstrate safe driving knowledge and ability. This referendum was placed on the ballot by anti-immigrant forces seeking to overturn the Legislature's decision to create safer roads in Oregon. A YES vote ensures that the law adopted by the Legislature and Governor to increase public safety will go into effect.
This proposed constitutional amendment would add an express prohibition on governmental discrimination based on sex, while ensuring that all other protections against discrimination remain in place.
This measure would ensure that women are accorded equal rights by all levels of government in Oregon. By placing an express provision for such equal rights in the state constitution, the measure ensures that no change in interpretation of the existing constitution could threaten equal rights for women. The measure would protect against the incremental cutting back of women's rights that seems to be occurring sporadically across the nation.
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