Eric Bahra v. County of San Bernardino et al

Filing 168

JUDGMENT ON JURY VERDICT by Judge Jesus G. Bernal. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that Plaintiff Eric Bahra have JUDGMENT as follows: Against Defendant County of San Bernardino in the amount of $ 2,503,093.00. Costs to be determined by the Court. Post judgement interest at the rate of 0.07%. (MD JS-6, Case Terminated). (iv)

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VALERIE ROSS, SB# 87664
LAW OFFICES OF VALERIE ROSS
14318 California Avenue, #101
Victorville, CA 92392
Tel. [phone]
[e-mail]

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CHARLES A. BONNER, ESQ. SB# 85413
A. CABRAL BONNER, ESQ. SB# 247528
LAW OFFICES OF BONNER & BONNER
475 GATE FIVE RD, SUITE 211
SAUSALITO, CA 94965
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

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ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF

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JS-6

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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ERIC BAHRA,
Plaintiff,

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vs.
COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO,
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND
FAMILY SERVICES ("COUNTY CFS"),
KRISTINE BURGAMY, In Her Individual
Capacity and In Her Official Capacity
NICKOLA HACKETT, In Her Individual
Capacity and In Her Official Capacity; and
DOES 1 through 50, INCLUSIVE,
Defendants.

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Case No.: 5:16-cv-01756-JGB-SPx

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JUDGMENT ON JURY VERDICT

TRIAL DATE: July 6, 2021
Judge: Honorable Jesus G. Bernal

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JUDGMENT ON JURY TRIAL

Case No.: 5:16-cv-01756-JGB- SPx
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JUDGMENT ON JURY TRIAL

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This action came regularly on calendar for trial on July 6, 2021, in United States District

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Court for the Central District of California, Courtroom 1 of George E. Brown, Jr. Federal

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Building & U.S. Courthouse, the Honorable Jesus G Bernal presiding. Charles A. Bonner and A.

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Cabral Bonner of the Law Offices of Bonner and Bonner and Valerie Ross of the Law Offices of

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Valerie Ross appeared as attorneys for Plaintiff Eric Bahra. Susan E. Coleman of Burke,

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Williams & Sorensen, LLP, appeared as attorney for Defendant County of San Bernardino.
A Jury of 8 persons was impaneled and sworn. Witnesses were sworn and testified.
After hearing the evidence and the arguments of attorneys, the Jury was instructed by the Court
and retired to consider its verdict. After a 7-day trial, on July 15, 20201, the jury unanimously
found as follows on the questions submitted to it:
The Parties have Stipulated that the County of San Bernardino was Eric Bahra’s
employer, and that the County of San Bernardino terminated Eric Bahra’s employment.
QUESTION 1: Did Eric Bahra disclose to a government agency (Children and Family

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Services) and/or a law enforcement agency (San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department) a

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systematic failure in the operation, maintenance, and monitoring of the CMS database system

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that resulted in children being placed in the home of known abusers?

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X

Yes

No

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QUESTION 2: Did Eric Bahra have reasonable cause to believe that the information

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disclosed a violation of state and federal laws including the Adoption and Safe Families Act?

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X

Yes

No

QUESTION 3: Was Eric Bahra’s disclosure of information a contributing factor in the
County of San Bernardino’s decision to terminated Mr. Bahra’s employment?
X

Yes

No

QUESTION 4: Was the County of San Bernardino’s conduct a substantial factor in
causing harm to Eric Bahra?
X

Yes

No

JUDGMENT ON JURY TRIAL

Case No.: 5:16-cv-01756-JGB- SPx
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QUESTION 5: Did the County of San Bernardino prove by clear and convincing

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evidence that it would have terminated Eric Bahra’s employment anyway at that time, for

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legitimate, independent reasons?

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Yes

X

No

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QUESTION 6: What are Eric Bahra’s Damages

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a.

Past economic loss, including wage loss

$ 503,093.00

b.

Future economic loss

$

c.

Past noneconomic loss, including mental and
emotional pain and suffering

$ 2,000,000.00

d.

Future noneconomic loss, including mental
and emotional pain and suffering

$

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TOTAL

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0

0

$ 2,503,093.00

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NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that Plaintiff Eric

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Bahra have JUDGMENT as follows:

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1. Against Defendant County of San Bernardino in the amount of $ 2,503,093.00

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2. Costs to be determined by the Court

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3. Post judgement interest at the rate of 0.07%

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Dated: October 14, 2021
Honorable Jesus G. Bernal
United States District Court

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JUDGMENT ON JURY TRIAL

Case No.: 5:16-cv-01756-JGB- SPx
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