A Los Angeles police commander named in a lawsuit filed by the union representing LAPD lieutenants and lower ranking officers won a round in court when a judge ruled against the union’s request to temporarily lift the automatic stay on discovery automatically implemented by one of the commander’s two dismissal motions.
In the Los Angeles Superior Court suit originally filed Aug. 7 and amended Aug. 19, the Los Angeles Police Protective League alleges Cmdr. Lillian Carranza used bogus online credentials to access confidential emails, communications and surveys distributed by the union to its members.
On Wednesday, Judge Bruce G. Iwasaki denied the union’s motion to depose Carranza and compel her to answer written questions as part of their argument against the commander’s dismissal bid, based on the anti-SLAPP law. Although discovery automatically closed with the filing of the motion, the union’s attorneys stated in their court papers that they needed the additional information to, among other things, examine the commander’s immunity claims.
“The court finds that (the union) has failed to show good cause for the discovery sought,” according to the judge, who heard arguments on Monday, took the case under submission and ruled Wednesday.
The state’s anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) law, which aims to prevent the use of the courts, and potential threats of a lawsuit, to intimidate those who are exercising their First Amendment rights. Carranza’s second motion seeks dismissal of the LAPPL’s case on different grounds.
The union’s suit was initially filed Aug. 7, alleging causes of action for fraud, unfair competition and a violation of the state Penal Code. The revised complaint brought 12 days later added additional allegations, including conspiracy as well as one more count each of fraud, unfair competition and violation of the Penal Code. In addition, Deputy Chief Marc Reina was added as a co-defendant with Carranza.
The union alleges Carranza — who was promoted to commander in 2023 and leads the LAPD’s Central Bureau — also successfully accessed and completed a survey that was intended for union members, while falsely claiming she was a lieutenant.
In a sworn declaration, Carranza denied any wrongdoing.
“While I understood that LAPPL’s bargaining unit would no longer represent me based on my status as a captain, I continued to have access to the LAPPL website and received correspondence, emails from LAPPL and accessed its website to monitor my benefits via the members’ portal,” Carranza said. “Upon becoming a captain, I still had my dental insurance, long term disability insurance and life insurance through LAPPL.”
The two Carranza dismissal motions are scheduled for hearings on Nov. 18.