City settles state civil-rights complaint for $230,000
The city of Simi Valley has agreed to pay a former employee $230,000 to resolve a complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Department alleging sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation by a supervisor, the state agency said.
The settlement, announced in a Civil Rights Department news release, resolves a complaint the employee filed last year. The department said the settlement underscores the consequences employers may face when complaints of discrimination, harassment and retaliation are not properly addressed.
“This settlement demonstrates that there can be serious consequences for failing to appropriately address complaints of discrimination, harassment and retaliation,”
— Civil Rights Department Director Kevin Kish, in an Aug. 12 news release.
The identity of the employee who filed the complaint has been kept confidential, according to the state agency. City spokesperson Heather Sumagaysay said Simi Valley denies the allegations in the complaint, including that any of its employees engaged in unlawful conduct.
According to a revised version of the Civil Rights Department complaint dated August 2025, the employee alleged her supervisor sexually harassed her on at least two occasions by making inappropriate comments and showing inappropriate photos. She wrote that she reported the behavior to city staff, including the city manager, but that no corrective action was taken.
The complaint further alleged that after the employee reported the incidents, her supervisor retaliated and discriminated against her. Specific claims include a reprimand for use of leave despite other employees in the same division using the same or greater amounts of leave, and a denial of a requested modified work schedule as an accommodation for a disability despite submission of a medical evaluation. The complaint says other employees had the same modified schedule and that the employee was encouraged to take disability-related leave instead.
Sumagaysay would not say whether the city conducted an internal investigation into the allegations, calling the matter a confidential personnel issue. The settlement agreement itself resolves the state complaint; the terms beyond the monetary payment were not disclosed in the news release.
Local implications and public accountability
Settlements between public employers and former employees raise questions for residents about oversight, workplace culture and the use of public funds to resolve personnel disputes. The Civil Rights Department’s statement framed the payment as an outcome that can follow when employers fail to act promptly on complaints of unlawful conduct.
- Settlement amount: $230,000 paid by the city of Simi Valley.
- Allegations: sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation by a supervisor.
- Process: complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Department; identity of complainant confidential.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Agency | California Civil Rights Department |
| Complaint filed | Last year (revised Aug. 2025) |
| Settlement announced | Aug. 12 (Civil Rights Department news release) |
| City response | Denies allegations; declined to comment on internal investigation |
Officials did not release further details about how the settlement will be funded or whether the payment will be covered by the city’s liability insurance. City residents and advocacy groups often press for clearer policies and regular reporting when public employers resolve claims involving harassment or discrimination; the level of transparency varies across local governments.
The case also points to the role of the California Civil Rights Department in enforcing state workplace protections. The agency’s director emphasized employers’ obligations to respond swiftly and appropriately when concerns arise.
For Simi Valley residents, the settlement may prompt renewed scrutiny of how the city handles internal complaints and what safeguards are in place to prevent harassment and retaliation. The city’s refusal to comment on whether it conducted an internal probe leaves open questions about corrective measures and future steps to address the issues raised in the complaint.
WE NEWS will seek additional comment from city officials and the Civil Rights Department regarding the settlement terms and any policy changes the city may adopt going forward.
