Pair of Local Civil Cases Move Forward in Pasadena Courtrooms Today

Two high-profile civil lawsuits are set to advance Wednesday in Los Angeles County courtrooms, each alleging serious misconduct by public institutions. A case management conference will bring to light disturbing allegations of police overreach in San Marino and a claim of workplace discrimination at Huntington Hospital, with both cases scheduled for 8:30 a.m. in separate court departments.

In the first case, Diana Mancillas and her daughter Gabriana Gutierrez have filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city of San Marino, detailing an allegedly traumatic traffic stop that they claim involved unjustified force and sexual battery.

The women assert that police officers conducted a high-risk stop despite knowing the vehicle’s license plate did not match a reported stolen car, and further allege that an officer sexually assaulted Gutierrez during the incident. The lawsuit describes officers ordering the women out at gunpoint, handcuffing them in public, and groping Gutierrez in what the legal filing characterizes as a humiliating and emotionally distressing encounter.

The second case involves Brenna Charboneau, a former claims coordinator at Huntington Hospital, who is pursuing a wrongful termination lawsuit against the medical facility.

Charboneau alleges she was fired in 2023 after taking time off to address her own coronary health problems and care for her disabled husband. The lawsuit highlights a particularly troubling alleged workplace interaction where Charboneau claims she confided in her supervisor about her husband’s abusive behavior, only to be coldly told, “I don’t want to hear about your personal life or what’s going on.”

Legal experts note the case raises important questions about employee protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Both cases rely upon allegations and claims that are as yet unproven.