A judge has dismissed former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by a department secretary who alleges the county’s ex-top law enforcement officer blocked her chance for promotion because she supported a rival candidate in the June 2022 primary election.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Randolph M. Hammock took the action on Monday after receiving an agreement from the parties that Villanueva, who is running to get his old job back in the November elections, should no longer be part of Gallegos’ case. The ruling was “with prejudice,” meaning Villanueva cannot be reinstated as a defendant.
Filed in June 2023, Gallegos’ revised complaint alleges only one cause of action for civil rights violations against the county, which is seeking to have the part of the case against it dismissed on April 15. Gallegos’ original suit filed in October 2022 alleged a second civil rights claim that her attorneys subsequently dropped.
A sheriff’s department employee of more than 22 years, Gallegos in October 2021 was named acting senior secretary 5 in the department’s Technology and Support Division, where her supervisor was Eli Vera, who finished seventh in the June 2022 primary. Villanueva was defeated in his bid for a second term in the Nov. 8 general election against retired Long Beach Police Department Chief Robert Luna.
Vera contends that he was demoted from chief to commander by Villanueva in retaliation for making a run for sheriff. In her suit, Gallegos alleges she paid the price for backing Vera when she was wrongfully denied the full senior secretary 5 position despite having the highest score among applicants.
“If not for Villanueva’s retaliation, (Gallegos) would have been hired in the position,” the suit states.
After allegedly blocking Gallegos’ promotion, Villanueva filled the position with a candidate who was a friend of the sheriff’s largest fundraiser, according to the suit.
“The person hired has caused chaos and discord in the office and refuses to learn the job,” according to the suit, which further states that the chosen candidate “had a reputation for similar antics and lack of competence in her other prior assignments.”