Carney R. Shegerian, an employee rights attorney and founder of Shegerian & Associates, a Santa Monica-based litigation law firm representing employees, confirms representing yet another lawsuit against the Glendale Police Department alleging harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and failure to prevent discrimination and harassment in violation of both the Fair Employment and Housing Act and Civil Rights Act of 1866.
The lawsuit alleges that defendants have subjected plaintiff Tyrone Hunter, who is of African-American descent, to various derogatory names used to describe a monkey and ethnic slurs too explicit to be published. The lawsuit asserts that defendants have harassed, discriminated, retaliated against, and failed to prevent such actions based on Hunter’s national origin, violating a basic civil right that the United States of America entitles all its citizens to. Serving as a loyal Police Officer to the citizens of the city of Glendale for over twenty years, Hunter is finally able to speak out about the countless discriminatory and harassing incidents he has endured throughout his whole Police career.
The lawsuit alleges how a superior told Hunter, “If I was contacted by the department and told one of our officers got shot and killed, you would be the first one to come to mind.” In another incident, an unknown person left a bottle of water with President Barack Obama’s picture on it in front of Hunter’s locker in the Police Department men’s locker room with a note: To MY BIGGEST SUPPORTER!!! I HOPE YOU FEEL THE CHANGE!!!
Shegerian comments, “It is a tragedy that the very ones to enforce our civil rights as citizens are the ones to treat one of their own in such a discriminatory manner. For Hunter to have to endure such treatment for over twenty years and to finally step out to assert his rights is a commendable act. Hopefully this lawsuit is a start to paving the way to a better working environment for the future generations of Glendale Police officers.”
An experienced trial attorney, Shegerian has tried many jury trials to verdict in both state and federal court, always representing individuals that have suffered financial or emotional losses and have been wronged by employers, including major corporations. Shegerian has built a remarkable career on helping those who have been wronged in the workplace. He remains undefeated in federal jury trials and has won 14 seven figure verdicts representing employees.
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