Los Angeles Sexual Assault Lawyer Blog

At least 17 employees of the Los Angeles Police Department have won million-dollar-plus awards from various suits against the city in which they accused the department of acts of retaliation, racial discrimination, sexual harassment in Los Angeles and workplace injustices, according to The Los Angeles Times. About a dozen more suits have awarded officers with five- and six-figure payouts.

A Los Angeles sexual harassment attorney understands that sexual harassment happens all too often in the workplace. Various forms of sexual harassment can include requests for sexual favors, inappropriate touching, unwanted advances or sexual innuendos and jokes. The number of cases continue to rise. Sometimes these acts of sexual harassment can be so severe that workplace performance can diminish or the behavior can negatively affect one's chances for getting a promotion.

Los Angeles city records report numerous officers have sued the department over workplace issues more than 250 times between the years of 2005 and 2010. The city has dished out a grand total of more than $18 million in settlements in about 45 of the cases. They've lost several other judgments that cost them several more millions. As it's not always a losing game for the city, they've prevailed in about 50 cases. Many cases, representing millions of dollars in potential liability remain unsettled.

"These cases irk the heck out of me," city councilman Greig Smith told the Times, adding the city's job-protection rules make it too difficult to fire officers who cause workplace problems. "Somebody running a private company would never let this ... stand. Why do we let it happen here? And we see the same things happening over and over again."

After large police departments were surveyed across the country, results showed that LAPD officers file lawsuits more than any other large police department. Their lawsuit filing record was roughly three times more than other large departments.

"I've got a news flash for the 'leaders' who are tasked with ensuring the Department treats its people fairly. Look in the mirror to find out where the problems are," Sgt. John Mumma, the union's secretary, wrote recently in letter published in the union's magazine. "How many more officers are going to become millionaires over the botched handling of their cases?"

A list of officers who received $1-million-plus sexual harassment settlements at the LAPD can be found on the LA Times website.

Continue reading "LAPD Officers Collect $18 Million in Various Los Angeles Sexual Harassment Suits" »

After the report of a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl, a male-teacher at Montclair College Prep in Van Nuys was placed under arrest earlier this month, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The teacher is currently facing charges of a sex crime in Los Angeles including unlawful sex with a minor.

The teacher is accused of periodically going to the young girl's home when the student was alone. The LAPD suspects that the teacher-student relationship had been going on for two months. The LAPD reports that the teacher has a prior crime report that was filed against him for child annoyance back in 2007, according to ABC 7. There was no criminal filing for that case that allegedly occurred in South Los Angeles.

Our Los Angeles sex crime attorneys understand that false accusations can be made against teachers. It is important to speak with a trusted attorney if you're currently facing any sex crime allegations.

The male teacher reportedly had his certification suspended by the state of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing back in November of 2010. The suspension was the result of reported moral or nonprofessional misconduct and lasted for 14 days.

Montclair College Prep has nearly 400 students and teaches grades 6-12. The 29-year-old teacher was appointed back in 2010 and taught social studies at the school.

School officials have yet to comment on the incident.

It is important to remember that a teacher or other employee who is accused of sexual misconduct in school deserves the benefit of the doubt -- the same as anyone accused of wrongdoing.

A rush to judgment often leaves a teacher or school employee with a ruined reputation and without a job regardless of the outcome of the investigation or final determination by the court system.

Remember that, if you're facing sex crime allegations, it is very important to watch what you say. It may be used against you as sex crime claims often come down to a question of proof and credibility. Only speak with your attorneys. Do not speak with government or school officials.

Continue reading "Teacher Faces Allegations of Two Month Sexual Relationship with Student in Los Angeles" »

The Sierra Madre Police Department reports that a 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of prowling in Sierra Madre. The arrest was made in connection with an incident where a woman reported a man had been looking in her window, according to Sierra Madre Patch.

The incident happened one morning late last month on the 400 block of Sierra Madre Boulevard. A man was reportedly peeping into the window of a female resident's home on the street. The female resident immediately called the Sierra Madre Police. As they arrived shortly after the call, they surveyed the area and located the suspect who was later identified by the victim. He was located in the driveway of an apartment complex nearby 15 minutes after policed received the call.

Our Los Angeles sex crimes attorneys would like you to know that it is critical to contact a skilled California defense attorney immediately if you're facing sex crime charges. We guide our clients through every step of the legal process, and are always available to discuss any questions or concerns they may have. Our sex crime attorneys personally investigate each case, question witnesses, review testimony, and challenge tough evidence. It is important you find an attorney who is dedicated to providing clients with viable options, useful resources, and compassionate legal care.

The alleged peeping tom was booked on suspicion of prowling and was held in the city jail on a $5,000 bail.

The Sierra Madre Police Department has been responding to and investigating 10 prowler complaints in that neighborhood. Even though the investigation is still underway, police are looking at the man they've detained in connection with these cases. While police believe they've got the alleged peeping tom, they're still investigating and asking the public for any more information or if they've witnessed a person looking in their window.

The fact that police found this man 15 minutes after they were called to the scene, may mean they have accomplished nothing more than arresting someone for standing in an apartment complex driveway.

Continue reading "Alleged Peeping Tom Detained by Police in Sierra Madre Sex Crime Case -- Yet Police Still Looking?" »

A recently released audit reports that the state agency did not investigate teachers who were accused of sexual harassment in Los Angeles in a timely manner. Such teacher were accused of kissing a student, sexual harassment or showing pornography to children, according to the Los Angeles Times. The state agency that did not investigate these accused teachers is in charge of revoking education credentials.

Nearly 13,000 cases, from the summer of 2009, were backlogged by the state Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The California state auditor located nearly three years' worth of these cases, concluding the commission didn't keep track of data and was often slow to looking into the allegations.

A Los Angeles sexual harassment attorney should be contacted immediately if you're facing sexual harassment charges. Case law from the Los Angeles Superior Court, the California Courts of Appeal and the California Supreme Court make arguing sexual harassment and the applicability of Sexual Harassment Laws a complex process.

The audit shows that changes must be made said Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento).

"These conditions appear to have resulted in delayed processing of alleged misconduct and potentially allowed educators of questionable character to retain a credential," wrote Elaine M. Howle, the state auditor, in a letter to the lawmakers.

The commission is made up of more than 30 full-time staffers including six investigators and is overseen by an appointed board. The board voted to revoke the credentials of 306 teachers and administrators last year.

Auditors of the commission found that commission employees moved too slow and also noted that it took the commission more than two months before reviewing 11 of the nearly 30 cases that the auditors examined.

In one specific case that they audited, a teacher was accused of kissing a student back in 2007. The commission didn't contact the school district until 2009. In a separate incident, the commission learned a teacher was accused of showing a middle school student pornography in 2008, but didn't request police documents until two years later, in 2010. By the time this second incident was brought to light, the principal who initially reported the incident had retired and the student who allegedly saw the photographs could not recall the details.

One of the explanations from the commission for taking such time to investigate is that they're required to wait until local law enforcement and schools districts finish their investigations before they can proceed with theirs.

The audit suggested that the commission update their database and provide more thorough training to ensure that proper information is collected and is easy to retrieve. They're also urged to study their workload to determine if more employees are needed for effective function.

"We're taking the recommendations very seriously," said Marilyn Errett, a commission spokeswoman.

Since the audit, the commission has started entering arrest data electronically.

Los Angeles Sexual Assault Lawyers understand the severity behind such allegations and urge you to contact an attorney before making a statement with officials. Often, defendants are likely to make incriminating statements in the absence of an experienced lawyer. You are urged not to settle for a quick plea bargain -- which will never eliminate the cloud of suspicion and could have consequences like sex-offender registration. Being forced to register as a sex offender could follow you for life.

The slipshod methods revealed by this audit, also call into question the quality of those investigations that were conducted -- yanking a teacher's credentials can have life-long consequences. Teachers need to stand up for their rights at the earliest stages of such investigations.

Continue reading "School Officials Fail to Record and Investigate Los Angeles Sexual Harassment Cases Accurately " »