Penhall

I. BACKGROUND

21 A. Parties 22 Plaintiff Brenda Penhall was an employee of Lake County’s Probation Department. 23 Mot. App. (dkt. 64-2) Ex. 11 at 123*. 24 Defendant LCPD is a local governmental agency and Penhall’s former employer. 25 Id. Defendant Robert Howe is the Chief Probation Officer at LCPD and Penhall’s former 26 boss. Howe Decl. (dkt. 64-2) ¶ 1. 27 B. Factual Background 1 Penhall began working for Lake County as an Eligibility Worker III with the 2 Department of Social Services on December 7, 2007. Penhall Depo. (dkt. 64-2)1 at 8:11– 3 15. On May 8, 2013, LCPD hired Penhall as a Welfare Fraud Investigator Trainee 4 (“Trainee”). Mot. App. Ex. 11 at 123*. 5 1. The Job 6 Penhall’s daily tasks as a Welfare Fraud Investigator Trainee involved working in 7 the back office, going out to interview potential suspects, and picking up surveillance at 8 stores. Penhall Depo. at 37:10–17. Anytime Penhall did fieldwork, her supervisor, Mike 9 Owens, would accompany her. Id. at 37:21–38:3. 10 To qualify as a Welfare Fraud Investigator (“Fraud Investigator”), a Trainee like 11 Penhall must complete training. Mot. App. Ex. 7 at 101*. The job description for the 12…