ABC7, FOX11, Univision and KFI Radio Report on Discrimination Lawsuit Against the City of Los Angeles After LAPD Officer Prohibited from Speaking Spanish
As reported by ABC7, FOX11, Univision and KFI Radio, Senior Lawyer Doug Winter and Partner Matthew McNicholas filed a lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles on behalf of a Los Angeles Police Department sergeant who was allegedly prohibited from speaking Spanish in his role as a media spokesman.
Sgt. Frank Preciado, a 22-year department veteran who continues to work in LAPD’s media relations unit, alleges that his superiors ordered him not to speak Spanish in the workplace and that Spanish television newscasts were turned off in the media office, making it nearly impossible for him to do his job working with the Spanish-speaking media.
In his interview with ABC7, Winter noted that, in this situation, “Such a directive, an English-only directive, not only violates California law, but it effectively shuts out almost 40% of the public from getting the news that they get through Spanish-speaking media.”
The complaint alleges that when Preciado complained, he faced retaliation, including responsibilities being taken away; no longer being allowed to be in the rotation as a public information officer; and effectively prohibited from doing the job that he was required to do.
Related Articles
- You’re Not Alone: Speaking Up for Harassed Firefighters
- $1.5 Million Settlement Obtained on Behalf of Fire Fighter in Injury Harassment Claim
- Understanding Disability Discrimination Law in California
- Jury Awards $824K To Pasadena City Employee Who Suffered Retaliation For Defending Colleague
- $425,000 Settlement Secured in Pelican Bay State Prison Sexual Harassment and Gender Discrimination Lawsuit
With more than 25 years’ experience as a trial lawyer, Partner Patrick McNicholas exclusively represents victims in personal injury, product liability, sexual assault and other consumer-oriented matters, such as civil rights, aviation disasters and class actions. Learn more about his professional background here.