Ortiz

Plaintiff Cipriana Ortiz was employed by an association to assist in the processing of insurance benefits for current and former officers of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). In that capacity, Ortiz had access to files containing confidential information about the officers.

Ortiz became romantically involved with a felon who was incarcerated. She planned to marry him. Ortiz’s superiors, upon learning of this, concluded that she had a conflict of interest because she had an intimate relationship with an inmate and access to confidential information about law enforcement personnel. Ortiz’s employer gave her the choice of ending the relationship or terminating her employment. Ortiz chose the latter and then filed this action.

The principal issue on appeal is whether Ortiz’s discharge violated her right to privacy under the state Constitution (Cal. Const., art. I, § 1). We conclude that her employer’s enforcement of the conflict of interest policy was a rational response to a legitimate employer interest. Accordingly, we agree with the trial court and affirm.

I

Background

In 1989, Ortiz commenced employment with the Los Angeles Police Relief Association, Inc.…