The California Correctional Peace Officers Association has settled a discrimination and unfair treatment lawsuit brought by a former longtime employee whose husband had been a 2008 candidate for the union's presidency.
The terms of the settlement are confidential.
CCPOA spokesman JeVaughn Baker said that the union "rejects all of the allegations," but made a "pragmatic business decision" to settle.
"At some point you have to count the beans," Baker said this morning. "This is a low-level employment issue, an internal issue."
A call to former employee Sharon Rafferty's attorney, James E. McGlamery, wasn't immediately returned.
Communications liaison Rafferty had worked for CCPOA for nearly 25 years before she was terminated and sued the union in 2009.
She alleged that after her husband, Dan Rafferty, announced in 2008 he was running "against a candidate that was favored by Management of the CCPOA," that she "was subjected to unwarranted, unfair, discriminatory treatment by Management of CCPOA," according to her November 2009 complaint. Mike Jimenez, CCPOA's current president, won reelection to his second three-year term in September 2008.
Rafferty went out on stress leave, and the union eventually terminated her position. She filed complaints with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. When those weren't successful, Rafferty sued in Sacramento civil court for lost earnings and damages.
She accused CCPOA of seven violations that included breach of contract and various forms of employer discrimination.
In January 2010, CCPOA offered a 12-point defense to Rafferty's complaint.
Last August, Sacramento Superior Court Judge David Brown summarily ruled against all but one complaint, that CCPOA had retaliated against Rafferty. Click here to download Brown's order.
Jury selection on the surviving complaint started Tuesday morning. Here's what happened next, according to the court's account:
After the noon recess, the Court and counsel had settlement discussions.
After discussions with the Court, counsel indicated the matter has settled.
Counsel stated the settlement into the record. The Court indicated this agreement is with a confidentiality clause. The Court shall retain jurisdiction of this matter up to 18 months as stated into the record.
Court adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
IMAGE: www.yolocourts.ca.gov
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