LAPD retaliated against police detective after medical leave. $2.1 million. Los Angeles County.

Facts and Background

• Facts and Background:

  Plaintiff Maria Montoya worked for the Los Angeles Police Department. In November 2011, she was a Detective III in Newton Division and she suffered a recurrence of a work-related back injury while on vacation.

  She saw a doctor on Nov. 28, 2011 and called the division and sent documentation. On Dec. 7, 2011, the Detective Commanding Officer, a Lieutenant II, called to see where Montoya was because no one had notified that lieutenant. Plaintiff was told that the lieutenant had been notified but Montoya thought the lieutenant sounded upset. Plaintiff Montoya remained off work from Nov. 28, 2011 until Jan.17, 2012 and returned with light-duty restrictions.

  On Jan. 18, 2012, the Detective Commanding Officer told plaintiff that she was being moved to the Burglary and Theft Table from the Sex and Juvenile Crimes Table, which she had supervised since 2009. Plaintiff was not happy about the move and called her union to complain and later complained to the Area Commanding Officer.

  On Jan. 19, 2012, Montoya was transported to the hospital for an apparent heart attack, later diagnosed as a severe panic attack, which she claimed resulted from stress due to her lieutenant's actions.

• Plaintiff's Contentions:

  That the City of Los Angeles discriminated against plaintiff in relation to her work disability and retaliated against her after she complained about being transferred to another section of her division.

  Further, that the lieutenant made incorrect statements in the initial paperwork for plaintiff's on-duty hospitalization, which she claimed delayed Workers' Compensation benefits.

  On Jan. 26, 2012, plaintiff made a formal complaint against her lieutenant. On Feb. 13, 2012 plaintiff's psychiatrist placed her off work, totally temporarily disabled from a psychiatric point of view, and the psychiatrist offered "no comment" when contacted by LAPD.

  LAPD thereafter suspended plaintiff's peace officer powers and took back the City-owned weapon and badge. In November 2012 Montoya was informed the complaint against her lieutenant was unfounded.

  Plaintiff did not return to work and received a disability pension from the City on Feb. 19, 2016, effective Oct. 15, 2015. 

• Defendant's Contentions:

  That  the Newton Division Sick and Injured on Duty Coordinator, who normally kept track of absent officers, was absent during December 2011 and no new Sick and IOD coordinator was appointed until February 2012, prompting the lieutenant's December 2011 call.

  The City contended that it had legitimate, non-discriminatory, non-retaliatory reasons for the actions that it took and that its actions were not adverse. The move between tables was necessary to address a crime trend. Detectives III are administrators and are expected to be able to supervise any divisional detective table, and there was no change in Montoya's division of assignment, pay, or benefit.