Clifford Merlo v. Robert L. Wilkie
Opinion
Trial Court Opinion
O
2 3 4 5 6
United States District Court Central District of California
11 CLIFFORD MERLO, Case № 2:19-cv-05078-ODW (JCx)
Plaintiff,
v. FINDINGS OF FACT AND
14 DENIS MCDONOUGH1, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
15 Defendant.
16 I. INTRODUCTION On February 13 through 16, 2024, the Court held a bench trial in this action. 19 Plaintiff Dr. Clifford Merlo tried two claims against Defendant Denis McDonough, 20 Secretary of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”), for age 21 discrimination and retaliation. The parties submitted documentary evidence and elicited 22 testimony from witnesses Dr. Ahmad Sadeghi, Tanae McNeal, Bradford Krutoff, 23 Dr. Michael Chung, Dr. Steve Lee, Dr. William Lorentz, Heather Xitco, Dr. Merlo, and 24 Dawn Kovner. Additionally, the Court engaged in its own questioning of witnesses. Having carefully reviewed and considered the evidence and arguments of counsel 26 as presented at trial and in their post-trial written submissions, the Court issues the