La Opinión Reports on Discrimination and Retaliation Lawsuit Against the City of Los Angeles
Partner Matthew McNicholas and Of Counsel member Jason Oliver are representing Sergeant Rigoberto Vásquez, a 26-year-veteran police officer in a racial discrimination and retaliation case against the City of Los Angeles. Vásquez alleges he was retaliated against after reporting that he heard Captain Johnny Smith tell Captain Germán Hurtado, a Latino, that he and his relatives were “wetbacks.” Hurtado filed an internal complaint against Smith regarding the captain’s comment and Vásquez was interviewed by LAPD Internal Affairs about the incident. After the interview, Vásquez was threatened by Smith telling him that if he gets involved, it would affect his career and the opportunity to become a lieutenant.
In an interview with La Opinión about the lawsuit, Oliver commented: “[Such language] should never be used in the workplace, whether coming from a commanding officer, captain, or another commander. They set a dangerous tone in a paramilitary environment [and] are totally inappropriate and degrading to the [police] uniform. Our law firm is committed to handling these types of cases and we will continue to combat racism wherever it is found at the LAPD.”
The case is Vasquez v. City of Los Angeles.
Read the La Opinión article here.
