EXCLUSIVE: Mendoza Accuser Adriana Ruelas’ History Includes Retaliation Lawsuit Against Different Employer

State Senator Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia).

By Brian Hews
Thursday Jan. 11, 2018 5:04 p.m.

Last week, Adriana Ruelas, longtime Capitol employee and former legislative director for State Senator Tony Mendoza, filed a “right to sue” discrimination complaint against Mendoza, the California Senate and two legislative officials. The complaint alleges that she was retaliated against for reporting sexual harassment by Mendoza.

Ruelas filed her complaint with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, a necessary preliminary step the state requires before initiating a lawsuit.

Ruelas’ letter went to the state Senate, Mendoza, Secretary of the Senate Danny Alvarez and the head of the Senate’s Human Resource Department, Jeannie Oropeza.

The complaint alleges that she, along with two others, was fired in September “after they complained to superiors” about Mendoza’s inappropriate behavior toward a young woman assigned to his Sacramento office through a Sacramento State fellows program.

Secretary of the Senate Daniel Alvarez disputed Ruelas’ statement and timeline in a written statement he sent to the Sacramento Bee.

Alvarez told the Bee, “One complaint by a terminated employee triggered an immediate investigation which has been ongoing since September 22nd.” Alvarez did not confirm that Ruelas was the terminated employee, though.

Adriana Ruelas

What is known is that Ruelas and two others were put on leave Sept. 22 and then fired on Sept. 30.

Secretary Alvarez partially disputed Ruelas account, saying, “Prior to that date [Sept. 22], no allegation was ever made to anyone at Senate Rules regarding misconduct on behalf of the Senator [Mendoza].” It is not apparent whether the “superiors” Ruelas says she lodged her complaints with were within the Senate Rules committee hierarchy or elsewhere in her management structure.

Now, a HMG-CN investigation has discovered that Ruelas has another disputed retaliation lawsuit underway simultaneously against another former state employer agency.

Court documents obtained exclusively by HMG-CN show that Ruelas recently filed a lawsuit against California’s Alcoholic Beverage and Control (ABC) for “retaliation, whistleblower retaliation, and failure to prevent retaliation.”

Click on image to view lawsuit.

Her attorneys for the ABC lawsuit are the Bohm Law Group in Sacramento while her attorney for the Mendoza case is Micah Star Liberty of Liberty Law based out of Oakland.

Similar to the Mendoza complaint, Ruelas alleged the offenses were carried out by her superiors.

In a move that is certain to raise questions about whether the ABC complaint stemmed from Ruelas’ intentions to deliver a political payback, the 23-page lawsuit was filed on Oct 13, 2017, just two weeks after Ruelas was fired from her Mendoza post.

Even more suspect, Ruelas waited for three months – “after going through hell for three years”- after she received the July 2017 right to sue [the ABC] letter.

Worked for ABC 2013-2016

Ruelas began working for ABC in January 2013. She claimed in her lawsuit that, after Sept. 2013 when Timothy Gorsuch was hired, she was “subjected to years of racist, sexist and homophobic abuse.”

She formally complained and was “immediately labelled a ‘pot stirrer’ and troublemaker” and alleged further “coworkers I complained about made it their mission to drive me out of the department.”

Ruelas said it got so bad she had to take medical leave on Aug 27, 2016. and was “forced to resign” on Oct 14, 2016.

Even though she claimed severe emotional stress and depression, Ruelas did not waste time and soon secured another government position in Mendoza’s office.

Just days after her resignation from ABC, in fact, she was hired before the month elapsed by Mendoza’s chief of staff, Eusevio Padilla.

According to Mendoza, Padilla never shared Ruelas’ previous employment issues with him.

During her employment with Mendoza, Ruelas continued to secretly file complaints with different agencies related to her ABC-retaliation claim.

Ruelas inquired about an investigation into her complaints on Dec. 8, 2016, filed a complaint with the California Government Claims Programs April 5, 2017, and filed another complaint with the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency on April 24, 2017

Ruelas eventually “exhausted her procedural remedies” and filed a complaint with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. She received notice from FEH giving her the right to sue in a letter sent July 2017.

For unknown reasons, despite three months to act, Ruelas chose to file the ABC lawsuit days after she was dismissed by Mendoza.

Now Ruelas has embarked on another possible retaliation lawsuit, filing a right to sue letter Jan. 3, 2018 against Mendoza, the California Senate and two legislative officials.

HMG-CN left messages with Alvarez and texted Ruelas for comment, Alvarez did not respond.

Ruelas directed HMG-CN to her current attorney Micah Star Liberty who did not want to comment on the cases.

[email protected]

@cerritosnews

Story use by attribution only please!

OFEEFAN Summer Dresses for Women 2025 Loose V Neck Short Sleeve Casual T Shirt Dress Sundresses Swimsuit Coverup with Pockets

(304)

$14.99 (as of May 2, 2025 17:23 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes, Daily Facial Cleanser Towelettes, Gently Cleanse and Remove Oil & Makeup, Alcohol-Free Makeup Wipes, 2 x 25 ct

(109580)

$9.97 (as of May 3, 2025 06:28 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Command 20 lb XL Heavyweight Picture Hanging Strips 16 Pairs (32 Command Strips), Damage Free Hanging Picture Hangers, Heavy Duty Wall Hanging Strips for Home Decor, White Adhesive Strips

(5562)

$11.81 (as of May 3, 2025 06:28 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

HydroJug Traveler - 40 oz Water Bottle with Handle & Flip Straw - Fits in Cup Holder, Leak Resistant Tumbler-Reusable Insulated Stainless Steel & Rubber Base - Gifts for Women & Men, Pink Sand

(8452)

$39.99 (as of May 3, 2025 06:28 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Spring Chef Stainless Steel Can Opener - Manual with Soft Grip Handles, Easy Turn, Heavy Duty Hand Can Openers for Seniors with Smooth Edge - Magnetic Lid Remover - Black

(262)

$8.99 (as of May 2, 2025 17:23 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

16oz Mama Glass Cup with Straw - Mothers Day Gift Cup with Flowers Print - Mothers Day Coffee Glass - Best Wishes for Mom

(12)

$9.99 (as of May 2, 2025 17:23 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Etekcity Food Kitchen Scale, Digital Grams and Ounces for Weight Loss, Baking, Cooking, Keto and Meal Prep, LCD Display, Medium, 304 Stainless Steel

(159103)

$13.99 (as of May 3, 2025 06:28 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Mobil 1 Advanced Full Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-30, 5 Quart

(45478)

$24.97 (as of May 3, 2025 06:28 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

MedPride Powder-Free Nitrile Exam Gloves, Iris Blue, Medium, Box/100

(98303)

$9.99 (as of May 3, 2025 06:28 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

LILLUSORY Lace Short Sleeve Shirts Womens Summer Crew Neck Tops Casual Dressy Tshirt Blouses

(21)

$7.99 (as of May 2, 2025 17:23 GMT -07:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)