April 2, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Former UCLA Employee Files Racial and Age Discrimination Lawsuit

Westside Today latest crime and courts news. Thinkstock
Westside Today latest crime and courts news. Thinkstock

A black former UCLA employee who says her supervisor joked she wanted to wear a noose around her neck for a party is suing University of California Regents, saying she lost her job because of age and race and for complaining about her boss’ conduct.

Janette Briceno, 59, filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. The suit seeks unspecified damages. The complaint also names Briceno’s 52-year-old white former supervisor, Nancy Blumstein, as a defendant. A UCLA representative did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment.

According to the lawsuit, Briceno was an administrative assistant in the UCLA Economics Department from September 2012 until last month.

She received good reviews and was considered a “valued member of the team who works well with others in the department and is a welcoming presence for all our invited guests,” the suit states.

Last August, Briceno applied to be enrolled in a special program and cited her training and licensing as a psychiatric rehabilitation practitioner, the suit states.

Blumstein told Briceno she was “shocked” and asked if she was serious about trying for the program, according to the lawsuit.

Two months later, Briceno went to meet with a co-worker and found Blumstein already in her colleague’s office, the suit states. Blumstein told the co-worker she wanted to “wear a noose around her neck for the Halloween celebration taking place that day,” the suit states.

“Given the history of black people in this country with all the lynching and hanging of slaves, are you sure that is what you want to do?,” Briceno’s co-worker asked Blumstein, the suit states.

Blumstein replied, “Oh, I don’t see it that way,” the suit states.

On another occasion, Blumstein told Briceno that another professor had said the plaintiff did not perform a task as hoped, the suit states.

Blumstein said the accent of Briceno, who is from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, may have been part of the problem, according to the suit.

When Briceno asked what her accent had to do with the discussion with the professor, Blumstein answered, “Well, if it’s not your accent it’s your culture,” according to the complaint.

Blumstein also once shouted at Briceno in front of co-workers and students and on another occasion called her “dyslexic,” the suit states.

Briceno complained about Blumstein to the human resources department in February and filed an internal discrimination and harassment complaint, the suit states.

The next month, Blumstein withheld some of Briceno’s pay, saying she was suspended that day for poor performance, the suit states. Briceno received a letter from UCLA in April stating she was being fired and her last day on the job was May 5, the suit states.

“Defendants’ job actions against (Briceno) were motivated by (her) race and/or age and/or hre good-faith complaints,” the suit states.

Related Posts

Put the Phone Down: LAPD and CHP Targets Distracted Drivers in April Crackdown

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Hands-Free Law Violations Could Now Cost You More Than Just a Fine Throughout April, the Los Angeles Police Department will...

Five Arrested in Culver City After Attempted Carjacking and Vandalism Incident

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Gun, Warrants, and Broken Glass: Culver City Police Tackle Two Crimes Police arrested four juveniles in connection with an attempted...

Kim Delaney, Partner Cleared After Weekend Arrest in Marina del Rey

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Emmy-Winning Actress and Partner James Morgan Released Kim Delaney, the Emmy-winning actress recognized for her roles in NYPD Blue and...

(Video) Spending an Afternoon at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Go To Pacpark.com For Tickets and More Information. Go To https://t.co/fDDgcY6b3e For Tickets and More Information.#amusementpark #rides #rollercoaster #summer #spring...

Matū Kai to Debut in Brentwood With Grass Fed Wagyu and Global Flair This Week

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Farm-To-Fork Beef, Wood-Fired Flavors, and Sustainability Meet on San Vicente The team behind Beverly Hills’ acclaimed steakhouse Matū will soon...

Mid-City Freeway Death Under Investigation After Caltrans Workers Find Blanket-Covered Body

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Woman Discovered on 10 Freeway Shoulder Identified; CHP Launches Probe Caltrans workers discovered a woman’s dead body around 9:00 a.m....

Community Support Saves Beloved West Hollywood Café from Closure

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Packed Tables and Emotional Messages Helped Keep the Doors Open Le Petit Four, the popular Sunset Boulevard café known for...

Egg Beaters Recalled Over Possible Chemical Contamination

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Massive Liquid Egg Recall Includes California Shipments Cargill Kitchen Solutions is recalling approximately 212,268 pounds of liquid egg products after...

Los Angeles County’s Measure A Raises Sales Tax On April 1, And It’s No Joke

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Culver City, and Malibu Will See Higher Increases Starting April 1, Los Angeles County residents will...

Robbery Boast on Instagram Helps Send Beverly Hills Heist Suspect to Prison

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Flashy Post, Federal Time: Smash-and-Grab Mastermind Sentenced Ladell Tharpe, 39, received an 84-month sentence from U.S. District Judge George H....

Culver City Rolls Out Hi-Lo Siren to Warn Residents During Emergencies

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Hi-Lo Warning System Activated: Culver City Adds New Evacuation Tool In an effort to strengthen emergency preparedness and public safety,...

Union Workers at UCLA to Strike April 1 Over Staffing Shortages, Labor Disputes

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Healthcare and Research Staff at UC to Strike, Alleging Unfair Labor Practices More than 20,000 healthcare, research, and technical professionals...

School of Rock Students Shine in Winter Performance Despite Widespread Fires

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2025

Summer Camp Registration Opens Now By Susan Payne Wildfire devastation wreaked havoc in areas of Los Angeles this January with...

Full House Creator’s Cielo Drive Estate Returns With Massive Price Drop

March 30, 2025

March 30, 2025

Franklin’s Mansion, Once the Site of the Manson Tragedy, Back on Market Full House creator Jeff Franklin is returning to...

Santa Monica, Beverly Hills See Real Estate Shifts After L.A. Wildfires

March 30, 2025

March 30, 2025

Beverly Hills and Brentwood Listings Triple in Wake of January Fires Home sales and listings have shifted dramatically across Westside...