Despite these defenses, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin allowed the case to proceed, citing a factual dispute about whether the nickname’s use met the legal requirement for pervasiveness. However, the jury ultimately found that Batiste had not proven a hostile work environment existed.
Aftermath and Legal Representation
The verdict concludes a legal battle in which Batiste sought to hold the city accountable for not taking more significant steps to address his complaints. While Batiste reported one additional incident in 2023, where a colleague mouthed the word “Memin” as he passed by, the court found that this incident, along with the others, did not meet the threshold for racial harassment under federal or state law.
Batiste was represented by attorneys Paul L. Alaga and Conrad Wu of Bryant Law Group. Richmond was defended by C. Christine Maloney of Maloney Employment Law, while Mendoza was represented by Peter Glaessner of Allen Glaessner Hazelwood & Werth LLP.
