Orange County has agreed to pay $925,000 to settle a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit brought by a deputy district attorney who alleged she was subjected to repeated inappropriate conduct by a supervisor inside the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Bethel Cope-Vega was awarded $3.5 million in damages after a San Diego jury found that the Orange County District Attorney’s Office had failed to prevent sexual harassment and workplace misconduct, exposing the county to over $8 million in financial consequences.
Fresh testimony in the ongoing civil trial against Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, Judge Shawn Nelson, and the County of Orange has revealed disturbing revelations of harassment, retaliation, and indifference within the DA’s office, with Pettit’s testimony suggesting that Spitzer and Nelson were aware of the allegations but chose to do nothing.
Former Senior Assistant District Attorney Tracy Miller has filed a lawsuit against Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, alleging he mishandled murder cases and protected a former supervisor accused of sexual harassment, and has been removed from her position due to the allegations.