A former Los Angeles police officer who sued the department, maintaining he was denied promotions for complaining about an alleged ticket-writing quota, can move forward with a second lawsuit in which he claims he was fired in retaliation for coming forward, a judge ruled today.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Linfield ruled there were sufficient differences in the two cases filed by Dan Gregg to allow both to continue.
“Though the complaint in the (new) action reasserts some of the allegations from the previous action, (Gregg) also alleges that (the LAPD) has engaged in additional conduct that has given rise to new and different injuries,” Linfield wrote.
Lawyers for the City Attorney’s Office filed a motion to dismiss the second complaint, maintaining in their court papers that Gregg’s first suit was still pending and there were insufficient details in the latest complaint.
In his original case, Gregg, a motorcycle officer formerly assigned to the West Traffic Division, alleged his commanding officer ordered him to deny overtime-pay assignments to officers who did not cite enough motorists for traffic violations.
Gregg insists he was punished for refusing to go along with his superior and for testifying on behalf of two motorcycle officers who sued the department over the alleged quotas and collectively were awarded more than $2 million.
The retaliation included denying Gregg a promotion and overtime pay, the first suit states.
In his new suit filed Aug. 26, Gregg maintains he found out in September 2013 that an internal complaint was filed against him alleging he was illegally obtaining overtime pay. Gregg maintains the allegation was false.
Gregg was put on involuntary leave last spring and fired after a Board of Rights hearing, the new complaint alleges. He maintains he lost his job for exposing the alleged ticket quotas, which the LAPD denies ever existed.
— City News Service