Bias Suit Brings New Claim Against Sheriff’s Dept.

The husband of a woman who has sued the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, alleging sexual harassment, has filed a claim saying Sheriff Brad Gates may have “conspired” to have him fired in retaliation.

The claim filed by Carl Costello with the county’s risk management office seeks $8 million for loss of earnings and “emotional and physical distress.”

The action comes eight months after his wife, Lt. Wendy Costello, and two other female Sheriff’s Department employees filed a lawsuit accusing Assistant Sheriff Dennis LaDucer of making inappropriate comments and groping them.

After an investigation, Gates fired LaDucer, who was one of the sheriff’s closest aides. LaDucer has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has filed a countersuit accusing Wendy Costello and the other women of slander.

In the claim, Carl Costello says that Gates and other Sheriff’s Department employees “encouraged, condoned, assisted, aided, abetted and conspired” to have him fired in August from his job at an Irvine computer company.

The two-page document does not elaborate on that allegation. But it claims that their purpose was to “harass, intimidate and retaliate” against Wendy Costello for bringing the suit.

Gates could not be reached for comment. A department spokesman said Wednesday he was unaware that a claim had been filed.

“We haven’t seen it so I don’t think it’d be appropriate to comment at this time,” Lt. Tom Garner said.

A claim for damages must be submitted with a government agency before a suit may be filed. If the county rejects the claim, Costello can file a lawsuit.