A fire captain with the Los Angeles City Fire Department has filed suit alleging he was harassed, retaliated against, and ultimately transferred after reporting an arson investigator for having left an unsecured firearm in an unlocked vehicle. Captain Brandon Taulli claims that the investigator’s race and gender played a central role in what he characterizes as an “adverse employment action.”
Captain Taulli’s suit alleges gender discrimination, race discrimination, retaliation, violation of the California Labor Code, violation of the California constitution, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and violation of the California Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights. Quoting from the complaint:
- At all relevant times hereto, plaintiff Brandon Taulli was and is a white Caucasian male employed as a firefighter of the rank of Captain 1 by the City of Los Angeles Fire Department
- At all relevant times hereto, LAFD Afara Lalaind, was and is a black African American female, and was and is employed as a firefighter of the rank of Arson Investigator/Firefighter III by the LAFD and the City.
- On or about July 11, 2023, plaintiff performed a routine check of Fire Station 17 premises when he found an unlocked vehicle and an unsecured loaded firearm therein in violation of California Penal Code §25140 and other state or federal statutes, or violation of or noncompliance with one or more local, state, or federal rules or regulations.
- Upon inquiry, plaintiff determined that Lalaind was responsible for the unlocked vehicle and unsecured loaded firearm. Lalaind was and is as an arson investigator employed by the LAFD, a sworn peace officer, a member of law enforcement, and an active member and executive officer of Stentorians, an activist organization whose stated agenda is the favoring in the treatment, recruiting, hiring, and promoting of African Americans within the LAFD and the City. Plaintiff informed Lalaind that having an unlocked vehicle and unsecured loaded firearm in or near the Fire Station premises was dangerous and against protocol, and further that she should always secure her vehicle and lock her firearm.
- Plaintiff thereafter consulted with multiple LAFD Captains and his LAFD Battalion Commander. Plaintiff was then directed by the Battalion 1 Battalion Commander to enter a summary of the events and circumstances set forth above into the LAFD omplaint Tracking System including, inter alia, on or about July 15, 2023, reporting and disclosing violations of LAFD Department Policies and Rules and Regulations by Lalaind.
- In or around July 2023 and to the present and continuing, Lalaind and the City harassed, discriminated against, and retaliated against plaintiff by, inter alia, making false and malicious statements about him regarding illegal vehicle search, theft, blackmail, extortion, racism, and sexism.
- Lalaind’s and the City’s statements were made outside the scope of any privileged communications.
- On or about July 28, 2023, plaintiff was notified via phone that he had been detailed from his regular work assignment (Fire Station 17, B Platoon) to Fire Station 76, B Platoon, effective immediately, and was to report to the new work location on July 29, 2023.
- The LAFD Emergency Operations Commander and LAFD Professional Standards Division Commander refused to explain (written or oral) the reason for the immediate detail.
- The unjustified detail was and is an adverse employment action.
- The Los Angeles Women in the Fire Service was and are an activist organization comprised almost exclusively of female firefighters whose stated agenda is to advocate for the recruitment, hiring, and promotion of females to command staff and other positions in the LAFD.
- The stated agenda of the Los Angeles Women in the Fire Service is to implement the LAFD’s Affirmative Action program disparately discriminating in favor of females in the recruitment, hiring, and promotion of females.
- The Los Angeles Women in the Fire Service had and has extensive influence in regard to issues regarding the LAFD, including recruitment, promotional and, disciplinary matters, and substantial access to and influence with the Mayor, City Council, and other officials of the City, including Kristin Crowley, the current Fire Chief of the LAFD, and other members of the LAFD Command Staff.
- Upon information and belief, Lalaind was or is a member of the Los Angeles Women in the Fire Service or is associated therewith. Upon information and belief, multiple command staff members and others involved with the matters and issues regarding Lalaind and plaintiff are members of the Los Angeles Women in the Fire Service or are associated therewith, including, inter alia, Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, former Assistant Chief and commanding officer of the LAFD Professional Standards Division (“PSD”) and now Deputy Chief Kristina Kepner, and other members of the LAFD, and engaged in harassing, discriminatory, or retaliatory conduct in favor of Lalaind, a female, and against plaintiff, a male.
- Lalaind’s sex or gender as a female was a substantial motivating reason for defendant City engaging in favoritism in favor of Lalaind based upon Lalaind’s sex or gender and have and will continue to have a discriminatory impact against plaintiff, a male, including, inter alia, the perpetrating of the adverse employment actions taken against plaintiff in violation of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act.
- The Stentorians are an activist organization comprised almost exclusively of African American firefighters whose stated agenda is to advocate for the recruitment and promotion of African Americans to command staff and other positions in the Los Angeles City and County Fire Departments.
- The logo of the Stentorians is a flaming black fist clutching an axe.
- The Stentorians had and have extensive political influence with the defendant City of Los Angeles and the LAFD, and substantial access to and influence with the Mayor, City Council, and other officials of the City of Los Angeles.
- Four of the previous five Fire Chiefs of the LAFD have been African American black members of the Stentorians.
- Upon information and belief, the current LAFD Fire Chief is also a member of the Stentorians.
- No other racial or ethnic association has more influence in regard to issues regarding the LAFD, including recruitment, promotional and, disciplinary matters, and access to and influence with, the Mayor, City Council, and other officials of the City of Los Angeles, including Kristin Crowley, the current Fire Chief of the LAFD, and other members of the LAFD Command Staff, regarding such matters than the Stentorians.
- Upon information and belief, the defendant City of Los Angeles and the LAFD gave or otherwise provided the Stentorians with former LAFD Fire Station 46 and later former LAFD Fire Station 30 to be used as the headquarters of the Stentorians.
- Lalaind was and is a member of the Stentorians and an executive officer of the Stentorians.
- Upon information and belief, multiple command staff members involved with the matters and issues regarding Lalaind and plaintiff are members of the Stentorians or are associated therewith, and engaged in harassing, discriminatory, or retaliatory conduct in favor of Lalaind, a black African American, and against plaintiff, a white Caucasian.
- The LAFD and the City had and has employment policies and practices favoring African Americans and blacks, including alleged diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and practices, that had a disproportionate adverse impact and effect on white Caucasians, such as plaintiff.
- Plaintiff was harmed by those employment policies and practices, and the LAFD and the City’s discriminatory employment policies, practices, protocols based on “racial equity” were and are a substantial factor in causing plaintiff harm.
- Lalaind’s race or color as a black African American was a substantial motivating reason for defendant City engaging in racially discriminatory favoritism in favor of Lalaind based upon Lalaind’s race or color and have had and will continue to have a discriminatory impact against plaintiff, a white Caucasian, including, inter alia, the perpetrating of the adverse employment actions taken against plaintiff in violation of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act.
The suit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Here is a copy of the complaint:
Updated: August 24, 2024: The arson investigator is suing the city alleging a hostile work environment that the city failed to address: