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| | Jury Drops $3.6 Million Hammer in LAPD Damage Case By John Millrany - June 22, 2001A 29-year veteran municipal worker for the city of Los Angeles was awarded $3.6 million in damages stemming from her being fired by LAPD following her testimony in a class action suit.
That particular suit already cost the city $40 million. Thus, more headaches for the keepers of LA’s coffers.
A federal court jury June 21 handed down the verdict, which also found Police Chief Bernie Parks and Cmdr. Daniel Watson personally liable for $500,000 and $250,000, respectively.
Plaintiff Theresa Schell, who began with the city as a clerk typist, worked her way up to a supervisory level in computers after transferring to LAPD. In her suit, she claimed the police department fired her in retaliation for her testimony in the protracted class action donnybrook concerning overtime issues partially related to the 1992 Watts riots.
Schell pronounced her satisfaction over the jury verdict by saying, "I am very happy (because) this sends a clear message to (LAPD) that it cannot retaliate against employees for truthful testimony.
"The most gratifying element is that even though these powerful people…came after me and pressured me to change my testimony, my convictions were that no matter what they said or did, I was not going to shade the truth or perjure myself. I feel strongly about what I did (but) I want all employees to know that they shouldn’t be fearful to tell the truth against anybody."
There was no immediate response from Chief Parks, but a spokesman for his department said he is considering appealing the case, which was concluded after eight days before US District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper. |