HOUSTON — A Harris County woman is suing state, county and city governments alleging violation of her civil rights.
Denise Garcia filed a lawsuit July 18 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against the state of Texas, Harris County, the city of Houston and police officer Raul Leal III, alleging the defendants violated the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution.
According to the complaint, Garcia, a Hispanic female, was deprived of equal employment opportunities and was wrongfully terminated Dec. 19, 2014, causing her to suffer lost wages and other compensations, lost benefits, mental anguish and damage to her reputation. She said the unequal treatment related to a traffic stop Nov. 14, 2014 involving Leal.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants discriminated against her in connection with the compensation, terms, conditions and privileges of her employment and then terminated her.
Garcia seeks trial by jury, reinstatement to her former position or any equivalent, damages, costs of court and all such other equitable relief. She is represented by attorneys Randall L. Kallinen of Law Office of Randall L Kallinen PLLC in Houston, and by R. Scott Poerschke of The Ogg Law Firm PLLC in Houston.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas Case number 4:16-cv-02134