Lawsuit filed alleging Race, gender discrimination at Los Angeles World Airport Police Department

Wrongful termination is part of a pattern against African American leaders, according to lawsuit filed by fired lieutenant

Aug. 16, 2018

Los Angeles, Calif. — The head of the Los Angeles World Airports Police Department engaged in systemic racism against African American lieutenants, commanding officers and sergeants since he took over the agency less than two years ago, says a wrongful termination lawsuit filed yesterday. Lawsuit attached.

At least 11 high-ranking African American officers have been fired, demoted, or subjected to some other adverse employment action since Chief David L. Maggard joined the department in 2016, according to the lawsuit, filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

In the lawsuit, Lt. Marlo Richardson says that a written complaint falsely accusing her, a Sergeant, and a Captain of favoritism was used as a pretext for her wrongful termination in February. She alone was singled out for discipline and termination, according to the lawsuit. Richardson claims that, under Maggard’s leadership, she was subjected to racial and gender discrimination, intentional infliction of emotional distress, sexual harassment and a hostile work environment.

Richardson was an 18-year veteran of LAWAPD, who performed her job duties in an exemplary manner under seven previous chiefs. As a result of her performance, she was promoted in 2001 to Field Training Officer; in 2004 to Sergeant; in 2011 to Sergeant II; and in 2014 to Lieutenant, where she also was selected to work special assignments. The LAWAPD’s 450 sworn officers are assigned to LAX and Van Nuys airports.

The written complaint arrived in response to disciplinary action taken against one of Richardson’s officers. The officer earlier had informed Richardson she couldn’t fully perform her duties as required and requested temporary assignment to light duty. Richardson followed department policy and forwarded to Human Resources a request for temporarily assigning the officer to light duty. H.R., which makes those decisions, approved the officer’s request.

But it later was learned that H.R. had approved the officer’s request without adhering to department policy requiring the officer to provide a doctor’s note or medical certification. All decisions to grant or deny light duty lay entirely with the human resources department, and Richardson only forwarded the request to H.R. in the manner required by department policy, the lawsuit says.

Richardson’s firing — purportedly connected to her handling of the light duty request — “was based on a discriminatory mind-set as is evidenced by the campaign of discrimination against numerous black sworn personnel of the LAWAPD,” the lawsuit states.

Defendants named in the lawsuit include Maggard, as an individual, as well as in his capacity as chief of LAWAPD, and the City of Los Angeles. The lawsuit was filed by Los Angeles civil rights attorney V. James DeSimone.

“The Defendants’ pattern and practice of discriminatory conduct on the basis of race … manifested itself in other ways,” the lawsuit states, “including systematically maintaining an inconsistent and discriminatory double standard of discipline including maintaining a policy and practice of terminating African American employees for purported transgressions that would not have resulted in termination had these individuals been other races or ethnicities.”

DeSimone has dedicated his practice to providing vigorous and ethical representation to achieve justice for those whose civil and constitutional rights are violated. Jeremy Lessem and Jamal Tooson, of Lessem, Newstat & Tooson LLP, of Los Angeles, are co-counsels who focus on civil litigation and criminal defense.

DeSimone is available for interviews. Contact Robert Frank, 206-790-6324.

V. James DeSimone

Attorney V. James DeSimone is a 35+ year experienced civil rights & employment lawyer in Southern California. Jim is a Super Lawyer, Rated “Superb” by Avvo, and is a US News & World Report Best Law Firm in California.