$2 Million Payout to Departing LA County CEO Faces Lawsuit
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is facing a serious lawsuit regarding the approval of a $2 million payment to former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Fesia Davenport. The lawsuit alleges that this payment violates the California Constitution, describing it as a "gift of public funds" disguised as a liability settlement.
According to the lawsuit filed on behalf of resident Ana Cristina Lee Escudero, this seven-figure sum was approved in a closed-door meeting last year. The expenditure was only discovered after local media reports, with the original purpose of compensating Davenport for "reputational harm and emotional distress" after voters changed the county's governance structure.
Legal controversy and community reaction
The court filing argues that no real legal dispute actually existed to justify such a costly settlement. The plaintiff points out that Davenport had stated in writing in early 2024 that she did not intend to sue the county government, similar to controversies surrounding the $239 million prison renovation project in the state where effectiveness is being questioned.
The incident has sparked a wave of indignation as it occurred while Los Angeles County claimed financial hardship and limited wage increases for employees. Many union leaders in California representing tens of thousands of county employees expressed frustration, calling it an unfair decision for those directly serving the community.
"It’s an exorbitant amount of money at a time when the county says they’re struggling financially," said Anthony Meraz, a county police union leader, to reporters regarding the matter.
Meanwhile, Mira Hashmall, the attorney representing the county, has dismissed the lawsuit and asserted that the payment served a legitimate public purpose. The county claims the settlement aimed to prevent potential litigation risks that could be more costly in the future, a situation reminiscent of the case where Jersey City spent $20 million on a museum project before abruptly canceling it. Currently, the lawsuit seeks a court order for Davenport to return the full $2 million to the taxpayers' budget.
