By Carlos Alcalá
calcala@sacbee.com
A federal judge told employees suing the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office this week that they must clean up and refile their legal complaints by the end of the month.
U.S. District Court Judge Frank C. Damrell Jr. issued the orders in two lawsuits Monday, giving the plaintiffs 20 days to refile.
The suits were filed last year by then-Deputy Tanya Hunt and three community service officers with the sheriff, Nicole Sahaj-Myers, Stacie Walls and Jona Scherr.
The women complained that other members of the department had harassed and discriminated against them.
Damrell's rulings say the accusations lack sufficient information and specific allegations against the defendants in the suit.
Doug Watts, attorney for the women suing the department, said he was disappointed by the order, but did not characterize it as serious.
"Judge Damrell's ruling states only that plaintiff should organize her complaint differently," Watts said. "We are in the process of complying with the judge's order, and will have the amended complaint filed by the end of January."
Ed Knapp, chief assistant county counsel for El Dorado County, said the suits as filed exhibited "incoherence," but said he could not comment on any specific accusations.
"We're going to be trying our case in the court, but we urge everybody to stay tuned," he said.
Call The Bee's Carlos Alcalá, (916) 321-1987.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.