Cal State Park officers go skinny-dipping at beach wedding, only Hispanic officer is disciplined. $325K. Orange County.

Summary

Hispanic State Parks officer goes skinny-dipping with white officers at wedding on the beach. He is later subject to discipline while white officers are not.

The Case

Case Name: Ennio Rocca v. California Department of Parks and Recreation
Court and Case Number: Orange County Superior Court / 30-2019-01049866-CU-OE-NJC
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Date Action was Filed: Thursday, February 07, 2019
Type of Case: Discrimination, Racial
Judge or Arbitrator(s): Hon. Craig Griffin
Plaintiffs:
Ennio Rocca, 39
Defendants:
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Type of Result: Jury Verdict

The Result

Gross Verdict or Award: $325,000
Non-Economic Damages:
Past: $250,000

Future $75,000
Trial or Arbitration Time: 13 court days
Jury Deliberation Time: 2 1/2 days

The Attorneys

Attorney for the Plaintiff:
Law Office of Bijan Darvish by Bijan Darvish, Huntington Beach.
Attorney for the Defendant:
Office of the Attorney General by Rhea G. Mariano and Jacqueline H. Chern, Los Angeles.

Facts and Background

Facts and Background:
Plaintiff, a male Hispanic State Park Peace Officer, obtained a permit to hold his wedding at the State beach he supervised. He and at least four other off-duty State Park Peace Officers took off their clothes and went skinny-dipping in the ocean.

State Parks conducted an internal investigation against plaintiff only. Plaintiff was the only person disciplined. The other employees, who were White, were never investigated or disciplined. The disciplinary measure taken against plaintiff was a 10% salary reduction for three months and denial of State housing.
Plaintiff's Contentions:
That State Parks discriminated against plaintiff on account of his race.

That lifeguards have a tradition where they swim naked in the ocean, and State Parks does not usually cite for this violation.
Defendant's Contentions:
That defendant did not discriminate, but had legitimate reasons for its business decisions. Those reasons included, plaintiff was responsible because he was the permit holder for the special event permit he procured for his event, he was the supervising Peace Officer for the beach where he engaged in misconduct and invited employees and members of the public, and the Peace Officer Bill of Rights Act prevented any investigation of the White employees once they were questioned as witnesses instead of subjects. None of the other peace officers were supervisors of that beach.

Additional Notes

The parties participated in a settlement conference, where a confidential settlement demand was made.