Firm-Client Victories

ZLF is results oriented with a very high success ratee, garnering many victories for clients over the years. A small sample includes:

• Ellis v. Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority Police Department (2024-2025): Police officer termination affirmed for excessive absenteeism and falsifying time records, against Officer’s claims of retaliation for filing workers compensation claims and medical condition discrimination. (Los Angeles County Superior Court Case No. 23 STCP 00241) Appeal dismissed. (CA Ct. App. 2nd Dist. 8thDiv. Appeal No.  B341736)

• Robert Chavez v. City of Los Angeles (2010): Mr. Zappia first-chaired the widely-publicized 2010 Los Angeles jury trial and secured a full defense verdict in the City’s favor against former police officer Chavez’s claims of employment retaliation, discrimination, and harassment for filing complaints of alleged harassment against the LAPD. (Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC 311284)

• Leroy Thomas v City of Irvine (2001): In a jury trial defended by Ed Zappia, the jury returned a defense verdict in favor of Defendants City of Irvine and a Police Commander against claims of race discrimination and retaliation brought by an African American Officer who was released from probation for insubordination and incompetence. (Orange County Superior Court Case No. 00CC02583)

• Duffy v City of Desert Hot Springs (2009): In a federal court jury trial defended by Ed Zappia, the jury returned a defense verdict against retaliation claim by police officer and union president who was released from probation for misconduct, fighting, and two incidents of excessive force during his probationary period. (United States District Court, C.D. CA Case No. 5:06-cv-00385-VBF-OP)

• Candle Edmundson McDonald v County of Riverside (Sheriff) (2010): In a court trial defended by Ed Zappia, Deputy Sheriff alleged retaliation, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, failure to engage and accommodate disability after she took a pregnancy leave and was then denied a disability retirement, as she did not want to return to duty. Defense verdict. (RCSC Case No. RIC 10000816)

• Josh Hiraoka v County of Riverside (Sheriff) (2009): Deputy Sheriff involuntarily granted disability retirement after having a seizure while driving police vehicle on duty. Filed a civil action alleging retaliation, disability discrimination, failure to engage and accommodate. Summary judgment granted in the County’s favor finding the County had legitimate non-retaliatory non-discriminatory reasons to terminate his employment via involuntary disability retirement. (RCSC Case No. RIC513890)

• City of Upland v. Davisson (2011): ZLF prevailed in the City’s declaratory relief action to resolve the issue of state-wide concern about the permissible scope and procedures for disciplinary appeal hearings in the recently enacted and amended Firefighter Bill of Rights Act. (San Bernardino Superior Court Case No. CIVRS 1100894)

• Liesha Fauth v Riverside County District Attorney (2008):  Sworn District Attorney Investigator was terminated after she was found psychologically unfit to carry a weapon. She and her husband then brought bizarre, graphic, and publicized claims of sexual harassment and discrimination against numerous high level county officials. Summary judgment granted in the County’s favor, finding the County had legitimate non-retaliatory non-discriminatory reasons to terminate her employment. (Federal USDC Case No. SACV08-199 (AHS)

• Hamblin, Ullerich and Salmeron v. City of Glendale (2011) (Las Vegas Joy Ride Case): ZLF successfully defended against three officers’ action for injunction to rescind their terminations from employment for alleged POBR due process violations when questioned about their location on a day they were missing for 9 hours because they took a joy ride to Las Vegas in their supervisor’s police vehicle. The Court denied the employees’ motion for a temporary restraining order to stop the termination process, and the case was dismissed. (Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC 461668)

• The Police Officer/Beauty Queen Cases:

• Mory I v City of Chula Vista: (California Police Officer/Beauty Queen Cases) (2012): ZLF won a motion for summary judgment against a former police officer’s FLSA/overtime claim for donning and doffing police uniform before and after work shifts. (USDC, Southern District Case No. 07-CV-0462 JLS (WVG))

• Mory II v City of Chula Vista: (2009): ZLF won a motion for summary judgment against Plaintiff’s claims for retaliation, discrimination, harassment and civil rights violations, alleging she was harassed and intimidated during a union meeting for suing the department. (USDC, Southern District Case No. 07-CV-0462 JLS (WVG))

• Mory IV v City of Chula Vista: (2012): ZLF firm prevailed in against police officer’s claims of wrongful termination, retaliation and procedural due process violations, when the court denied the employee’s lawsuit seeking reinstatement. The court ruled the employee was legitimately and justifiably terminated for conduct unbecoming an officer (theft of her former fiancée’s engagement ring), violating peace officer probation rules by participating in public out of state beauty pageants while on probation, and interfering with a personnel investigation. (San Diego Superior Court No., 37-2009-00079219-CU-WT-SC)

• Mory V v. City of Chula Vista: (2011) The superior court defense judgment in the City’s favor against former police officer’s writ petition seeking reinstatement and back pay, alleging that her termination was unwarranted for participating in beauty pageants during probation, and alleging numerous POBR violations. (San Diego Superior Court Case No. 37-2009-0007-9219-CU-WT-SC)

• RSA (Cline) v. County of Riverside, et al. (2011) ZLF obtained a defense judgment against Plaintiff/labor union’s allegations that our client unlawfully unilaterally imposed an overly-strict policy for permits to carry loaded and concealed weapons, and sought an order requiring our client to grant retirees’ applications to carry loaded and concealed weapons. The court ruled our client had the right to unilaterally create the policy and apply its discretion in deciding whether or not to grant such requests. (Riverside County Superior Court Case No. RIC 1101283.)

• Valentin v. City of South Gate (2008): Federal District Court granted three summary judgment motionsagainst former Police Officer’s claims of retaliatory termination and civil rights violations after he was terminated for tipping off local drug dealers that they were subject of local police and DEA investigations. (USDC, Central District Case No. CV 04-3396 R (SHx))