LAREDO, Texas — A legal battle is unfolding as a former city department director, along with a senior police officer, has initiated a joint lawsuit against the City of Laredo, alleging gender discrimination. This case features significant claims of retaliation and discrimination tied to the plaintiffs’ professional experiences and actions within the city government.
The lawsuit stems from the dismissal of Karina Elizondo, who served as the Director of Laredo Animal Care Services until her termination approximately 18 months ago. Edward Pina, her attorney, contends that Elizondo’s firing was linked to her gender and pregnancy. According to Pina, Elizondo faced retaliation as city officials allegedly targeted her due to her investigation of a gender discrimination complaint involving former city attorney Kristina Hale.
In April 2023, Elizondo filed a formal gender discrimination complaint after being suspended without pay for ten days. This suspension reportedly followed her attempts to address issues she believed were matters of public concern. Now, Pina is seeking to broaden the lawsuit’s scope to include Enedina Martinez, a former Deputy Chief of the Laredo Police Department.
Martinez, who made history as the department’s first female deputy chief in February 2019, also claims to have encountered discriminatory actions. Following the retirement of Police Chief Claudio Trevino, who stepped down in 2023, Steve Landin assumed the role of acting chief. Pina highlights that during her tenure, Martinez faced criticism from Landin for allegedly using “un-lady-like” language in a private dialogue. Following this incident, Martinez was informally counseled and eventually replaced by a male officer.
Countering these allegations, Laredo City Attorney Doanh “Zone” Nguyen asserts that proving discrimination requires substantial evidence. He stated that merely being a woman does not automatically indicate discrimination without proper proof of intent behind the actions taken against the individuals involved.
An attempt to include Martinez in the lawsuit was not accepted by a judge due to procedural issues raised by Pina. A status hearing is set for August 22 in federal court, where Pina must present a co-counsel based in Laredo, or he may be compelled to withdraw from the case.
As the developments unfold in this significant legal dispute, they shed light on the broader challenges related to gender equity and discrimination within municipal organizations.
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