The L.A. Times has reported a stunning $2.8 million jury verdict in favor of former LAPD officer Pedro Torres, who alleged that after he testified on behalf of another officer to support that officer’s claims of harassment in the workplace, the department retaliated against him by taking various adverse employment actions that ultimately concluded in him being unable to continue working as a cop. The full story is here.
This case study is just another example of the serious liability employers can face when they retaliate against employees for supporting claims of harassment or discrimination or reporting illegal activities in the workplace. Employers should exercise caution before taking adverse employment actions against such employees or else risk facing liability under California’s stringent laws protecting whistleblowers and prohibiting retaliation in the workplace.
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Bernstein & Friedland, P.C. is a boutique employment law firm in Los Angeles specializing in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and unpaid wage and overtime matters. Please visit our website at www.laemploymentcounsel.com to learn more about us.
