Judge throws out some claims made by female Burbank police officer
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge on Thursday told jurors they cannot consider claims made by Burbank Police Officer Cindy Guillen that she faced harassment based on her ethnicity and gender.
The ruling leaves jurors to consider only whether Guillen faced discrimination because of her pregnancy, and retaliation when she complained. She also alleges in her lawsuit that the city did nothing to address her complaints.
Guillen had alleged that she was sexually harassed and, as a Latina, faced on-the-job discrimination — accusations the city denied earlier this week in court.
The judge did not explain to the jury her reasons for throwing the claims out.
Still left on the table are claims that after Guillen became pregnant in November 2007, former Police Chief Tim Stehr told her she needed to control her weight gain during her pregnancy. A lieutenant also allegedly said she needed to maintain a proper height-to-weight ratio.
In her lawsuit, Guillen also claims that when she complained to commanders, she faced retaliation — echoing claims filed by other former and current officers who have sued the Police Department.
Testimony is expected to wrap up today and closing arguments could begin tomorrow morning.
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-- Maria Hsin, Times Community News
Twitter: @marahsin