Defense verdict in claim of racial discrimination by city librarian. Los Angeles County.

Case Name: Nora Cofie v. City of Los Angeles
Court and Case Number: Los Angeles Superior Court /BC 441369
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Date Action was Filed: Friday, July 09, 2010
Type of Case: Discrimination, Racial, Emotional Distress, Employment, Harassment
Judge or Arbitrator(s): Hon. Richard L. Fruin
Plaintiffs:
Nora Cofie
Defendants:
City of Los Angeles
Type of Result: Jury Verdict

Attorney for the Plaintiff:
Ernest Franceschi, Los Angeles.
Attorney for the Defendant:
Los Angeles City Attorney's Office by Douglas Lyon and Jorge Otano, Los Angeles.

Facts and Background:
Plaintiff Nora Cofie worked at the City Library beginning in 2001. She was terminated in 2010. She has not worked since she lost her job. Plaintiff filed a lawsuit based on racial discrimination. Plaintiff's supervisors were black and coworkers were of various ethnicity.
Plaintiff's Contentions:
That she was terminated because of her African heritage, and was constantly harassed based upon her race while working for the City Library. Plaintiff testified she was called "African Monkey" on at least 2,000 occasions, and that coworkers and supervisors would call her "boogie dancer" and other racially-charged comments on at least 5,000 occasions. That she reported the harassment on three occasions but the City refused to take action.
Defendant's Contentions:
That plaintiff never reported the comments. She complained only of general workplace personality conflicts, and she continually yelled at, screamed at, and/or harassed her coworkers. That plaintiff refused to perform her work duties, would cause problems at work, called in sick each week, and generally gamed the system until she was terminated when she refused to show up for her own Skelly termination hearing.

Physical Injuries claimed by Plaintiff:
Plaintiff claimed the harassment caused her to slip and fall and injure her leg, and she limped during trial, three years after the incident. She claimed she suffered severe emotional distress which prevented her from ever working again.