A jury ordered the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to pay $4.075 million to an employee who sued for whistleblower retaliation and failure to provide complete back wages and an accounting after he was fired and later reinstated.
The Los Angeles Superior Court panel deliberated for about a day before reaching its verdict Thursday in favor of Christopher Goleco, who was hired as a medical assistant in 2004.
While working at the state prison in Lancaster in 2004, Goleco administered CPR to an inmate found with a gaping head wound, but evidence showed the inmate died about an hour before Goleco arrived, according to the suit. Nonetheless, Goleco was served with a notice of dismissal in 2005 on grounds he did not provide timely aid to the prisoner, the suit stated.
Goleco spent years fighting his firing and was ordered reinstated by a Superior Court judge in 2012, a ruling that was upheld on appeal one year later, the suit stated. In a sworn declaration, Goleco said he became known as the longest fired and later reinstated employee in department history.
Goleco said the department’s alleged refusal to pay him back wages and benefits owed to him caused him and his family to suffer constant financial pressure, including repeated foreclosure threats and other creditor actions.
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Lotus Flower says
Not only should the Department investigate inappropriate behavior with the Corrections Department, but now since Mark Ridley Thomas has been removed from The Board of Supervisors, his previous behavior with regards to prior employment, and the Entire Board of Supervisors should be investigated going back at least 25 or more years.
There are many injured, wrongfully fired individuals still trying to get up, or have become homeless, and/or died. This is so sad, as many deaths, and other crimes have also been at the hands of Supervisors, and Seniors, too.
These ppl, Bureau Chief’s, Supervisors, Seniors, and Chiefs of almost every department were/ are guilty for embezzling money, or some other type of atrocity. Ppl have been promoted without the proper schooling, and without doing the required testing, or field work.
I have been injured going on 20 years, and without doing anything wrong, I have been kicked to the curb by the Probation Department (as have a myriad of other’s) but, all the therapy, medical appointments, hospital bed, massages, Yoga, Tai Chi, acupuncture, physical therapy, In-home Health Service Provider, a special made vehicle, braces for hands, back and foot, and a hot wax machine, a tens machine, a new set of teeth, some more hair, a home to live in, a hairdresser , which are just a few of the things I needed and need to help make me live a much better life. From my injuries, and for them (waiting years to approve a simple surgery), I am injured for life, and there is NO CURE FOR THE THINGS THAT I HAVE NEEN DIAGNOSED WITH.
Having multiple diseases, what the Probation Department has done to me they have done to too many injured (truthfully) employees whom were hurt, or that are still hurt, and need legal, mental, financial, psychological and emotional support (and more) from all the denial we received after getting hurt, but the minor criminals get to ensure Probation staff lose their jobs because their civil rights were and are violated; “get real”!
Probation is even being sued by LACERA, as they (Lacera) did not want Probation to have control over the funds. Probation has spent, stolen money, but when you put people in peril with children, you have helped to increase the homeless population, and I think they contributed to our deadly virus which has helped our States get to where they are with reference to housing, global warming, pollution, pesticides being sprayed on our foods, and consumed by consumers who are now paying an over the top price for sub-standard food. We have contaminated our sea with oil, and now you are allowing other cultures to go basically steal fish and seafood from other countries, but sell it to us at ridiculously higher prices.
In short, please do a thorough investigation about The Entire Board of Supervisors (going back at least 30) years, and The Board of Supervisors, Bureau Chief’s and all that are mentioned above, and more. How can a Clerk Supervise a DPO, DSO, or a bathroom worker. How can a GSN, perform the position as Supervising DPO II, and they cannot pass the test to become a DSO?
There is a lot more than meets the eye at this department! There has been so many many deaths of friends, Central Juvenile Hall, and Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall should be checked for asbestos, as they are the oldest of the 3 Juvenile Halls!
I am here begging and pleading that The Los Angeles County Probation Department needs to be investigated at once, as how can a Bureau Chief’s daughter have not one, but 2 children with a minor, and the whole story was buried, and the employee never fired.
Why are the “so-called leaders the one’s who commit the most hideous crimes which would have me “a person of color” fired instantly, but they are allowed to get full retirement and lifetime medical benefits without any repercussions?
This is backwards, and needs to be investigated immediately!