Discrimination

GLENDALE — Four Armenian officers and one former officer have filed a joint lawsuit against the Glendale Police Department, alleging years of discrimination, derogatory comments and harassment because of their race. Officers John Balian and Robert Parseghian; Sgts. Vahak Mardikian and Tigran Topadzhikyan; and former Officer Benny Simonzad filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Wednesday, alleging myriad on-the-job discrimination and harassment incidents. When confronted with complaints of the discrimination, command staff failed to respond, according to the federal lawsuit.

The judge in the trial of a former Jet Propulsion Laboratory employee who claims he was fired for his belief that God had a hand in shaping the universe will determine what's dogma and what isn't, not a religious expert. David Coppedge, a former systems administration lead on NASA'sCassini mission to Saturn, claims he was unfairly terminated from his JPL job for discussing California's gay marriage ban initiative with colleagues and for giving them DVDs promoting intelligent design - the theory that life and the existence of the universe are best explained as the result of the influence of God or an intelligent agent.

Alex Coolman GLENDALE -- Discrimination will be the subject Thursday when the the League of Women Voters hosts a forum on the city's policies for distributing federal money. The forum, which will feature input from groups ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to the Girl Scouts of America, aims to give direction to the city in its policies for dealing with federal block grant money. Terry Bailey, president of the Glendale-Burbank chapter of the League of Women Voters, said the event stems from an effort that began in August, when the Glendale Human Relations Coalition pushed the City Council to adopt stricter rules against discrimination.

Alex Coolman SOUTHWEST GLENDALE -- The city should broaden its nondiscrimination policies to prevent giving money to groups that exclude people, residents said at a Thursday night symposium held by the League of Women Voters. Dozens of Glendale residents and several city officials attended the meeting on the city's nondiscrimination policy, held at Fire Station 21 on Oak Street. Many of those in attendance, including Glendale resident Marjorie Davis, expressed concern that public money could be going to organizations unwilling to serve all members of the public.

Gary Moskowitz NORTHEAST GLENDALE -- Valley Temps Inc. settled a lawsuit filed by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for $12,000, and agreed to expunge the personnel file of the employee. The temporary job placement agency hired L.A. resident Lydia Martinez as an office assistant at its Glenoaks Boulevard location in March 1999. Her employment was terminated three weeks later by a manager who was unhappy with her Guatemalan accent, said Equal Employment Opportunity Commission senior trial attorney Peter F. Laura.

The Super Bowl is this weekend. But the game won’t be played without a bit of controversy. CBS has rejected an ad from a gay dating website. While entirely commercial in nature, CBS argues, the spot “is not within the network’s broadcast standards for Super Bowl Sunday.” While CBS has rejected other ads (one featuring a man named Lola), the folks behind the dating site say it is “straight-up discrimination.” What do you think? Is it discrimination?

Alex Coolman GLENDALE -- A man who was fired from his job with the city has filed a $100,000 claim against Glendale alleging racial discrimination. Maurice Brown, who worked as customer service representative for Glendale's building and safety department, was fired after nine months, he said. At the end of May, Brown, who is part Jamaican, filed a claim with the city alleging his supervisor, Guia Murray, had discriminated against him. Specifically, Brown said, Murray told him his clothes made him "look like a gangster" and made jokes suggesting he was a drug dealer.

An appeals court this week upheld a ruling against a woman who claimed discrimination and harassment while working as a secretary for the Burbank Fire Department. The 2nd District Court of Appeals found that Diane Wilson failed to adequately back up claims that she was subjected to discrimination and harassment after she returned from extended medical leave. “After a thorough and comprehensive review by the court of appeal, we are pleased with this final decision,” City Atty.

BOB HOPE AIRPORT ? A former airport police officer has filed suit against the Burbank/Glendale/Pasadena Airport Authority claiming racial discrimination and wrongful termination. Michael Gomez, was fired on Sept. 2, 2005, after a fight with another officer, according to his complaint filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court on April 12. The suit, however, claims that Gomez did not start the fight, and he suffered humiliation being unfairly reprimanded in front of his fellow officers and discrimination at the hands of his superior officers due to his race.

As testimony wrapped up Monday in the trial for an Armenian American Burbank police detective who alleged he was harassed and faced discrimination, a psychiatrist hired by the city described him as narcissistic and deeply insecure. Det. Steve Karagiosian, who was evaluated by psychiatrist Lester Michael Zackler for the city, was described in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday as “detail oriented” and a “perfectionist” who also had a “defensive, paranoid stance.” All of those attributes combined to creating a need to “puffing oneself up,” Zackler testified.

The judge in the trial of a former Jet Propulsion Laboratory employee who claims he was fired for his belief that God had a hand in shaping the universe will determine what's dogma and what isn't, not a religious expert. David Coppedge, a former systems administration lead on NASA'sCassini mission to Saturn, claims he was unfairly terminated from his JPL job for discussing California's gay marriage ban initiative with colleagues and for giving them DVDs promoting intelligent design - the theory that life and the existence of the universe are best explained as the result of the influence of God or an intelligent agent.

Three Armenian Glendale police officers filed a lawsuit Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging racial discrimination and continued retaliation after they filed a claim against the department in federal court two years ago. Officers Vahak Mardikian, John Balian and Tigran Topadzhikyan also allege in the latest lawsuit filed against the city and high-ranking members of the Glendale Police Department that they have been unfairly placed...

In the past, race has been one of the biggest issues when it came to fair housing impediments in Glendale, but now people with disabilities and large families face greater discrimination, according to a recent report to the city's Housing Authority. The shift follows cultural changes that came with significant growth in Glendale's foreign-born population, especially Armenian, and a protracted recession that turned the housing market upside-down. It's also in line with national trends, said Veronica Tam, a consultant who created the Fair Housing Impediment Analysis.

I'm writing to share a story about a hard-working group of city employees. We who live in the canyons are required to clear our hillsides every year. Recently I learned that the city's Neighborhood Services has a fee-based service that clears hillsides in the city. Their estimate was very competitive, I hired them and I'm very pleased with the results. I recommend their services to everyone. Lynn McGinnis Glendale Join the fight for women’s rights Even as young women graduate in record numbers from U.S. high schools and colleges this month, they still face many barriers.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has dismissed a major discrimination and harassment lawsuit filed by a former police lieutenant. In filing the lawsuit, former Burbank Police Lt. Omar Rodriguez claimed he was placed on administrative leave in retaliation for complaining of an improper relationship between the police chief and the officers union. He also claimed he suffered racial discrimination and “repeated acts of harassment.” But in dismissing the claims last week, Superior Court Judge Joanna O’Donnell said they lacked merit, and Rodriguez’s bid to sue on behalf of other officers who allegedly faced harassment was unfounded.

An appeals court this week upheld a ruling against a woman who claimed discrimination and harassment while working as a secretary for the Burbank Fire Department. The 2nd District Court of Appeals found that Diane Wilson failed to adequately back up claims that she was subjected to discrimination and harassment after she returned from extended medical leave. “After a thorough and comprehensive review by the court of appeal, we are pleased with this final decision,” City Atty.

CITY HALL — A female police lieutenant who says she endured years of on-the-job discrimination is the latest officer to file a lawsuit against the Glendale Police Department. Police Lt. Susan Hayn is the eighth officer known to have filed a discrimination suit this year against the Police Department. All the plaintiffs, including Hayn, are represented by Santa Monica-based attorney Carney Shegerian. Hayn, who has worked for the city since 1985, alleges years of gender discrimination and harassment by her male colleagues, according to the lawsuit.

GLENDALE— A federal judge has narrowed the scope of a lawsuit filed by five Glendale police officers who alleged discrimination and harassment due to their ethnic backgrounds. After reviewing arguments and a motion by the city to dismiss the case, U.S. District Court Judge Christina Synder on Friday dismissed at least two dozen defendants from the lawsuit because the allegations against them weren't sufficiently severe, according to federal court records. City officials hailed the ruling as indicative of the weak case against the Police Department.

About two dozen Glendale High School students and teachers were taking their seats Friday to protest prejudice and harassment of all types, when a student a few yards away repeatedly yelled a derogatory term for homosexuals. The incident occurred as students handed out small notices that said they muted themselves to represent the unheard victims of discrimination and name-calling as part of the national Day of Silence. Participating students kept silent all day and wrote their responses to questions.