Armenian American police officers lawsuit trial delayed again

June 15, 2013 – 14:28 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A federal trial sought by five Armenian American
Glendale police officers who are suing the city for alleged
discrimination and harassment has been pushed back again and now isn’t
expected to start until November, Glendale News-Press reported.

Trial had originally been set to start in March in the case involving
Officers Vahak Mardikian, Tigran Topadzhikyan, Robert Parseghian, John
Balian and Benny Simonzad. It first was moved to July, and then this
week pushed back again to a non-specified date in November due to
scheduling conflicts on the both sides.
For the city, its lead counsel will be away at a convention. And
Topadzhikyan is out of state attending the Naval Postgraduate School
in the Center for Homeland Defense and Security.

The officers filed a joint lawsuit in 2010 against the Glendale Police
Department and the city, claiming on-the-job discrimination,
harassment and retaliation because they’re Armenian.

In July 2012, a U.S. District Court judge ruled the officers could
move forward with the lawsuit and refused to dismiss the claims,
although some claims against certain police commanders were dropped.

Following that ruling, the city changed its legal counsel, a new judge
was assigned to the case, and both sides met to discuss a possible
settlement.
But the discussion proved to be futile.

Mardikian, Balian and Topadzhikyan filed a separate racial
discrimination and retaliation lawsuit in March 2012 in Los Angeles
County Superior Court. That case has been on hold due to the ongoing
federal case.

A hearing on the status of case is scheduled on July 30.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress