LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County assessor’s office is alleged to have continued to give favorable treatment to connected taxpayers, allowing them to pay lower property taxes for years and costing the County millions of dollars in lost revenue. The three employees suing, alleging retaliation, have been allowed to amend their complaints to include misuse of public funds under Penal Code section 424.
Stephen Adamus, Yvonne Austin and Scott Woods say County Assessor Jeff Prang, his top managers and county lawyers have violated tax codes to benefit property owners with ties to elected officials by giving them favorable decisions on reassessments. The trio alleges the county has intentionally lost legal cases, reversed property tax decisions and reimbursed millions of dollars to individuals and corporations in back taxes.
The judge gave them the authority to file the amended complaints, back in December, which were filed with the court Jan. 11, 2022.
Former Assessor John Noguez had fresh corruption charges filed against him in 2020. Noguez’s alleged corruption came to light in 2012.
Read the amended complaints by clicking here, which have been consolidated into one case.
Court records indicate a status conference is scheduled for April 27, 2022, with Prang up for re-election in June.
