Judge OKs Jury’s $1.3M Retaliation Award to DA’s Office Investigator

A Santa Barbara judge brought in to oversee a California retaliation case against the Ventura County District Attorney's Office after local judges recused themselves has OK'd a $1.3 million jury award to a former investigator.

However, an attorney for the county and the DA's office said they intend to appeal the verdict in favor of former DA's office investigator Robert Velasquez, who said he was forced into retirement after testifying truthfully in discrimination cases brought by two other office employees, the Ventura County Star reports.

Attorney Mark Pachowicz of Camarillo represented Velasquez and Jeffrey Held of Wisotsky, Procter & Shyer represented the defendants.