Trial Magazine

Stephen Meiche, a 38-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department, became a frontline diver for the department. He was also appointed to the department’s Dive Safety Board, which manages the department’s dive program, including all incoming federal grants designated for equipment purchases and dive training.

After learning that members of the department were destroying certain equipment, Meiche notified his captain, who also sat on the board. Meiche also complained that grant funds were being misappropriated and that documents submitted with grant requests had been plagiarized.

Meiche later became the target of safety accusations and internal complaints about his whistleblowing. His colleagues began ignoring him, and he was removed from the board. His original complaints were never investigated.

Meiche sued the city of Los Angeles and the fire department, alleging whistleblower retaliation. The plaintiff sought damages for his emotional anguish and other noneconomic damages.

The jury awarded $2.75 million.

Citation: Meiche v. City of Los Angeles, No. BC 625060 (Cal. Super. Ct. Los Angeles Cnty. Nov. 21, 2018).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ member Matthew S. McNicholas and Douglas D. Winter, both of Los Angeles.