Zanone
Zanone v. City of Whittier
Opinion
Opinion
Perluss, J.
The City of Whittier appeals from the judgment entered in favor of Gina Zanone, a former Whittier police officer, after a jury awarded her $1.25 million in her action for sex discrimination, harassment and retaliation. We affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
1. Zanone Joins the Whittier Police Department
Zanone joined the Whittier Police Department in January 1997 after 10 years working for the Gardena Police Department as both a patrol officer and a detective. Approximately six months after she began Zanone was transferred to patrol duty in the City of Santa Fe Springs, which was policed by Whittier pursuant to a contract. Zanone had grown up in Santa Fe Springs and was living there at the time of the transfer.
In her first annual performance evaluation for the year 1997 Zanone received an overall rating of “competent plus.” In her annual performance evaluation for 1998, completed by her supervisor during that time, Sergeant Rod Bryant, Zanone received an overall rating of outstanding. For the year 1999 she also received an overall outstanding rating from Sergeant Bryant, who was her supervisor for the first 10 months of 1999, and Sergeant Gary Hancock, who was…