SACRAMENTO – Two female correctional officers for the California Department of Corrections allege discrimination has limited their career opportunities and caused economic harm.
E. Parker and L. LaPorta filed a complaint on July 16 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California against California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Scott Kernan and Ralph Diaz citing the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and other counts.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs began their employment as correctional officers with the California Department of Corrections in 1994. They allege that the defendants discriminate against women and fail to prevent discrimination, harassment and retaliation. The suit states of the 130 sworn peace officers with the Office of Correctional Safety, only seven are women and women have never been promoted to chief or deputy chief.
The plaintiffs hold California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Kernan and Diaz responsible because the defendants allegedly created an oppressive, hostile and/or offensive work environment and the harassment was sufficiently severe to alter the terms and conditions of their employment.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment against defendants for compensatory and punitive damages, attorney’s fees, injunctive and/or declaratory relief, costs of suit, and other relief to which the plaintiffs are entitled. They are represented by Leslie F. Levy and Sharon Vinick of Levy Vinnick Burrrell Hyams LLP in Oakland.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California case number 18-cv-01954