Hudson

A former deputy in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, while on temporary disability leave resulting from knee injuries, was discharged from her employment on grounds later found by the county civil service commission to be unjustified. During the long civil service commission proceedings leading to its order restoring her employment, however, the county’s retirement authority granted her a disability retirement, without benefits, and she thereafter withdrew her accumulated retirement contributions. Her suit in the Los Angeles Superior Court sought restoration of her employment as a deputy sheriff, and the retirement authority’s reevaluation of her disability status in light of her rehabilitation following knee surgeries. She appeals from trial court rulings and resulting judgments that have thwarted that result.

Background

On April 1, 2011, appellant Monique Hudson filed a complaint against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Sheriff Leroy Baca, and the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA). The complaint’s first cause of action sought specific performance of a contract identified as a written settlement agreement. The second…