County of L.A. v. Villanueva CA2/4

INTRODUCTION

This appeal by defendants Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (Department), Alex Villanueva (Villanueva), the current Sheriff of Los Angeles County, and Caren Carl Mandoyan (Mandoyan), a former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy, arises out of an action brought by plaintiff County of Los Angeles (County) to declare void a purported settlement agreement entered by defendants in Mandoyan’s separate wrongful termination lawsuit and writ proceeding against the County. In brief, under the administration of former Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell, Mandoyan was terminated for cause as a deputy sheriff. After the Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission (Commission) upheld his termination, Mandoyan filed a petition for writ of mandate to set aside the Commission’s decision, as well as a complaint for damages against the County challenging his termination. When Villanueva was elected Sheriff, he directed the Department to enter into a settlement agreement with Mandoyan overturning the Commission’s decision and reinstating Mandoyan to his prior position, with back pay of more than $200,000. In return, Mandoyan agreed to dismiss his civil actions against the…