Dancler

INTRODUCTION

In 2011 John Dancler was terminated for misconduct from his job as a traffic officer with the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (City or LADOT). Dancler was discharged after a video, which became public, showed Dancler fondling an adult film actress while he was on duty. He unsuccessfully sought to overturn his termination through a petition for writ of mandate. Several years later Dancler filed a lawsuit against the City alleging he did not receive due process in his termination proceedings. The superior court sustained the City’s demurrer to Dancler’s operative complaint without leave to amend, and Dancler appealed. We affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

A. Dancler’s Termination for Misconduct The City employed Dancler as a traffic officer beginning in 1988. In March 2008, while on duty and in uniform, Dancler groped the bare breasts of an adult video actress and spanked her bare buttocks. She also straddled him. The incident was captured on video and was posted on the internet. In April 2011 the City learned about the incident and the existence of the video after a local television reporter raised questions about Dancler’s behavior in the…