LOS ANGELES – A former business agent for a Teamsters local based in West Covina has dropped her lawsuit against her ex-employer in which she alleged she was subjected to ongoing discrimination because she is female and gay and ultimately fired in 2022 because she complained of disparate treatment.
Attorneys for plaintiff Carla Castro filed court papers on Thursday with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Stephanie M. Bowick asking that the woman’s case be dismissed “with prejudice,” meaning it cannot be refiled. The court papers do not state if Castro reached a settlement or is not pursuing the case for other reasons.
Filed Jan. 17, Castro’s lawsuit alleged wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation and failure to prevent discrimination, harassment and retaliation. She sought at least $500,000 in compensatory damages as well as punitive damages.
Castro was hired as a business agent in January 2016 and was one of the only women working in management, according to the suit, which also stated Castro is openly gay and was on the board of Teamsters LGBTQ plus caucus, which has a goal of unifying, educating and empowering lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Teamsters members.
However, in October 2021 Castro’s new boss, Damascus Castellanos, began harassing her because of her gender and gender identity, making such comments as “females should not be business reps because the guys should never have to filter how they speak,” the suit stated.
The supervisor repeatedly said that he felt women in Castro’s position at the local were detrimental to the function of the union, then in January 2022 he began to target the plaintiff and write her up for things she didn’t do, calling her “defensive” if she refuted the accusations in writing, the suit states.
Castro complained about her treatment and was fired last July, allegedly because of her sex and gender identity as well as her involvement in LGBTQ plus activities, according to the suit, which further stated the plaintiff was replaced by a male, making all the business representatives of that gender.
Castro continues to suffer emotional distress as well as medical expenses and financial losses because of her firing, the suit alleged.
In his court papers, an attorney for the union and Castellanos denied Castro’s allegations and said they were barred by the statue of limitations. The attorney urged that the case be dismissed and that Castro “take nothing.”
