On September 27, 2019, we filed Barbara Lopez v. City of Santa Fe, John Muñoz, AFSCME Local 3999, and Michelle Gutierrez, an action under the New Mexico Whistleblower Protection Act (“NMWPA”), in the County of Santa Fe, First Judicial District Court. View the Complaint here. Persons with information may reach us via our Contact Form.

Anyone giving truthful testimony is protected by law. WPA subsection 10-16C-3 forbids “any retaliatory action” against any public employee who “communicates to the public employer or a third party information about an action or a failure to act that the public employee believes in good faith constitutes an unlawful or improper act; [or] provides information to, or testifies before, a public body as part of an investigation, hearing or inquiry into an unlawful or improper act.” WPA, NMSA § 10-16C-3.

Below are press links related to the lawsuit:

Suit: SF Parks Head, Union Discriminate Against Worker
A lawsuit filed by a longtime Santa Fe city employee alleges violations of minimum and overtime wage laws, discrimination based on her gender and sexual orientation and retaliation after she complained about…
Morning Word: City Employee Alleges Discrimination
In a recently filed lawsuit against the City of Santa Fe, Parks and Recreation Department employee Barbara Lopez says the city violated wage and overtime laws, discriminated against her because she’s a gay woman and reclassified her into a lower position when she complained about her treatment.