Long-time school safety officer is terminated after he requests desk assignment due to his ongoing disability following an accident. Later fired. Says it was partly retaliation for his facial hair accommodation.
The Case
- Case Name: Eric Jones v. Los Angeles Unified School District
- Court and Case Number: Los Angeles Superior Court / 20STCV43019
- Date of Verdict or Judgment: Wednesday, July 02, 2025
- Date Action was Filed: Tuesday, November 10, 2020
- Type of Case: Discrimination, ADA, Employment, Wrongful Termination
- Judge or Arbitrator(s): Hon. Robert B. Broadbelt
- Plaintiffs:
Eric Jones, 50
- Defendants:
Los Angeles Unified School District
- Type of Result: Jury Verdict
The Result
- Gross Verdict or Award: $3,000,000
- Non-Economic Damages:Past: $1,500,000
- Future: $1,500,000
- Trial or Arbitration Time: 15 days
- Jury Deliberation Time: 4 hours
- Jury Polls: 9-3
- Post Trial Motions & Post-Verdict Settlements: Defendant's motion for new trial, JNOV.
The Attorneys
- Attorney for the Plaintiff:
Irmas Law APC by Jared Irmas, Thousand Oaks.
The Law Office of George Moschopoulos, APC by George Moschopoulos, Dana Point.
- Attorney for the Defendant:
Harris & Associates by John Harris and Herbert Hayden, Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Unified School District by Nazli Alimi, Los Angeles.
Facts and Background
- Facts and Background:Plaintiff, a 23-year school safety officer with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), suffered a serious shoulder injury in 2018 and sought reasonable accommodation to continue working. He was at first given light-duty assignment, but was later terminated.
- Plaintiff's Contentions:Plaintiff alleged that rather than engaging in a lawful, good-faith interactive process as required by the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the District prematurely ended his light-duty assignment, improperly evaluated him using a job description meant for sworn police officers, and ultimately forced his separation after asserting that all his leave had been exhausted.
- Plaintiff further contended that the decision was tainted by the School Police Department Deputy Chief's lingering animus from a 2016 accommodation dispute over plaintiff’s medical exemption from LAUSD’s shaving policy. Plaintiff also presented evidence that a desk position at LAUSD police headquarters was available and suitable for his restrictions.
- Defendant's Contentions:LAUSD maintained that plaintiff could not safely perform the essential duties of a school safety officer either on campus or at headquarters and argued that the district’s merit-based system prevented reassignment to a desk position as an accommodation.
Injuries and Other Damages
- Physical Injuries claimed by Plaintiff:Plaintiff claimed emotional distress, and was the only witness as to his emotional distress. No psych expert was retained.
Additional Notes
Following trial, LAUSD moved for JNOV and a new trial, arguing that the verdict was internally inconsistent because the jury found LAUSD liable for failure to engage in the good-faith interactive process while finding no liability for failure to accommodate. LAUSD also challenged the damages as excessive. The Court denied the JNOV motion, finding the verdict consistent and supported by the evidence, but granted a conditional new trial on damages unless plaintiff accepted a $1.2 million remittitur, which he did.
A motion for approximately $1.8 million in statutory attorney’s fees is scheduled for hearing in April 2026.
Disclaimer
This is not an official court document. While the publisher believes the information to be accurate, the publisher does not guarantee it and the reader is advised not to rely upon it without consulting the official court documents or the attorneys of record in this matter who are listed above.