With last discrimination lawsuit over, former San Diego clerk Maland says ‘truth has finally come to light’

Nearly three years of litigation over discrimination allegations against longtime San Diego City Clerk Liz Maland have ended with a civil jury verdict that a Black employee was not denied a promotion because of race.

The verdict was regarded as a vindication by the now-retired Maland, who ardently defended herself against the allegations and took the unusual step of criticizing the case in the media during the ongoing litigation.

“After nearly three years, I am deeply relieved and grateful that the truth has finally come to light,” Maland told The San Diego Union-Tribune on Thursday. “This verdict affirms what I have always known to be true: that my actions were grounded in fairness, integrity and a genuine commitment to supporting all employees equally.”

Three other lawsuits that involved similar discrimination allegations against Maland all ended with the city paying out $20,000 to each plaintiff.

Maland has frequently pointed to her record of hiring a greater share of Black employees in her office than the overall percentage of Black residents in the county.

She contends that there was a full embracing of diversity while she was in charge of the clerk’s office from 2005 to late 2022, when the allegations prompted her to Read Entire Article