Spagnoli lawsuits continue
A Beverly Hills police sergeant filed a lawsuit against the city on March 30, claiming he faced workplace retaliation from Police Chief Sandra Spagnoli and was wrongfully placed on leave.
This marks the fourth ongoing lawsuit against the city alleging Spagnoli harassed, discriminated against or retaliated against employees.
Sergeant Scott Dibble alleges he was placed on work leave in retaliation to a previous lawsuit he settled with the city in 2019, and that he's faced harassment and discrimination in the workplace.
Dibble had been going to work for a year and a half after a motorcycle accident and was promoted to sergeant in 2019 before the city told him he was too unwell to work, said Brad Gage, his lawyer.
“Given these virulent times, people have a right to be treated properly at work, and in this case, the right to go to work – one of the few jobs people actually can go to,” Gage said.
Dibble’s previous lawsuit claimed Spagnoli sent him sexually inappropriate text messages and didn’t promote him because he didn’t reciprocate her advances.
Public Safety Communications and Evidence Manager Dona Norris, Lieutenant Michael Foxen and Lieutenant Renato Moreno have also filed lawsuits against the city alleging a range of misconduct from Spagnoli.
The city has publicly denied the lawsuits’ claims.
“The city remains committed to a respectful work environment free from harassment, retaliation and discrimination,” said Public Information Manager Keith Sterling.
At least 20 other current and former employees have filed lawsuits against Spagnoli alleging discrimination since she was appointed chief in 2016. Beverly Hills hired Michael Sitrick, a crisis public relations specialist whose clients have included convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein, to help the city handle the lawsuits in 2018.
Gage said the city has paid $7.8 million in settlements and legal fees in the cases he’s represented.
He represented a similar case to Dibble’s in 2018, where Traffic Department Officer David Brandon alleged Spagnoli discriminated against him on the basis of his age. The city settled this case earlier this month for $275,000.
Prior to Beverly Hills, Spagnoli served as police chief in the San Leandro and Benicia police departments. She is the first female police chief to be appointed in Beverly Hills, which received praise from community members and earned her a profile in Vogue magazine.
Gage said Spagnoli is being rewarded for her discriminatory actions and the city isn’t doing anything about it.
“I don’t think the city cares – [it] has lots of money,” Gage said. “[Beverly Hills] has made it pretty obvious by its conduct and action that it’s not going to do [anything] that’s effective in combating continuing discrimination, harassment or retaliation.”
The lawsuits do not yet have court dates as of publication, since courthouses are indefinitely closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Gage, Dibble’s lawsuit had to be filed online.
