In December 2017, the plaintiff, a police officer employed by the Santa Cruz Police Department, attended a private holiday party. She claimed that a fellow police officer, David Gunter, became intoxicated and inappropriately touched her. She complained about Gunter to a superior officer, to the city of Santa Cruz’s human-relations department and, later, to a Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office investigator. Gunter was dismissed from the department, and he ultimately was convicted on four counts of misdemeanor battery in April 2019 in a reduced plea. The plaintiff claimed that her co-workers targeted her after she had made the complaints against Gunter and that the police chief and human-resources director failed to take steps to protect her from subsequent workplace harassment. The plaintiff sued Gunter, the Santa Cruz Police Department and the city of Santa Cruz. She alleged that Gunter’s actions constituted sexual harassment and that the actions of the city and its police department constituted gender discrimination, failure to prevent a hostile work environment and retaliation. Defense counsel denied the plaintiff was retaliated against., The plaintiff no longer works for the Santa Cruz Police Department. She claimed she suffers emotional distress as a result of the events. The plaintiff sought recovery of damages for her emotional pain and suffering.