Harassment Suit Gets New Trial
A state appellate court has ordered a new trial in the lawsuit by a Los Angeles deputy district attorney who alleged that her office retaliated against her when she made a sexual harassment claim.
Superior Court Judge Robert Parkin had dismissed the lawsuit in 2002, saying the Los Angeles district attorney’s office was immune from such a suit. He ordered the plaintiff, Denise Moehlman, to repay more than $100,000 in legal costs.
But the 2nd District Court of Appeal overturned that decision this month, ruling there was no immunity and that Moehlman was not responsible for the fees.
Moehlman accused the district attorney’s office and former Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti of retaliating after she complained a colleague had sexually harassed her between 1991 and 1994. Moehlman said she received poor performance ratings thereafter.
The county has filed a motion for the appellate court to reconsider the ruling.
Moehlman unsuccessfully ran against Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley when he was reelected last month.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
