El Paso County - County Court at Law 6 Filed 12/14/2023 4:22 PM

Norma Favela Barceleau

District Clerk
El Paso County
2023DCV4372
IN THE DISTRICT COURT/COUNTY COURT AT LAW
EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS

EDMUNDO CALDERON, §
§
Plaintiff, §
§
v. §
§
CITY OF EL PASO, TOMMY GONZALEZ, § Cause No. _____________
CASSANDRA HERNANDEZ, §
KARLA NIEMAN, JUAN GONZALEZ, §
DEBORAH PAZ, and JEREMY JORDAN §
§
Defendants §

PLAINTIFF’S ORIGINAL PETITION

TO THE HONORABLE JUDGE OF SAID COURT:

NOW COMES EDMUNDO CALDERON, Plaintiff, and files this Original Petition

against the CITY OF EL PASO, TOMMY GONZALEZ, CASSANDRA HERNANDEZ,

KARLA NIEMAN, JUAN GONZALEZ, DEBORAH PAZ and JEREMY JORDAN

Defendants, and would respectfully show the Court as follows:

I. PARTIES

1. Plaintiff EDMUNDO CALDERON resides in El Paso County, Texas and is a citizen

of Texas. He is a public employee of the City of El Paso.

2. Defendant CITY OF EL PASO is a city in El Paso County, Texas. It can be served

with process by serving its Mayor, Oscar Leeser, who may be served at 300 N. Campbell, El

Paso, Texas 79901 or wherever he may be found.

2. Defendant TOMMY GONZALEZ, City Manager for Midland, Texas, is an individual

who works at City Hall and may be served with process at 300 N. Loraine St., Midland, Texas

79701 or wherever he may be found.

3. Defendant CASSANDRA HERNANDEZ, a representative of El Paso City Council, is

an individual who can be served with process at 300 N. Campbell, El Paso, Texas 79901 or

wherever she may be found.

4. Defendant KARLA NIEMAN, City Attorney of El Paso, Texas, is an individual who

works at the City of El Paso and can be served with process at 300 N. Campbell, El Paso,

Texas 79901 or wherever she may be found.

5. Defendant JUAN GONZALEZ, Assistant City Attorney of El Paso, Texas, is an

individual who works at the City of El Paso and can be served with process at 300 N. Campbell,

El Paso, Texas 79901 or wherever he may be found.

6. Defendant DEBORAH PAZ is an individual who resides in El Paso, Texas and can be

served with process at 2929 Van Buren Ave., Apt. 18, El Paso, Texas 79930 or anywhere she

may be found.

7. Defendant JEREMY JORDAN is an individual who resides in El Paso, Texas and can

be served with process at 308 Stewart Ct., El Paso, Texas 79915-2528 or wherever he may be

found.

II. JURISDICTION AND VENUE

8. The Court has jurisdiction over this case pursuant to the Texas Whistleblower Act Sec.

554.007 (b) allowing a public employee of a local governmental entity to sue in the district

court of the county in which the cause of action arises.

Edmundo Calderon’s Original Petition Page 2

10. Venue is proper in this county and court because the events forming the basis of this

complaint took place in El Paso County, Texas.

III. DISCOVERY CONTROL PLAN

11. Plaintiff requests that discovery be conducted under Level 3 of Texas Rules of Civil

Procedure 190.4. Plaintiff seeks monetary relief over $250,000 but not more than $1,000,000.

IV. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

12. In November 2022, Calderon received an anonymous call accusing former City

Representative Rodriguez of using city gas cards for campaign use. Based on that report, he

commenced an investigation of City Council use of gas cards.

13. As part of the investigation, on or about April 6, 2023, he met with members of the El

Paso Police Department to obtain their assistance in obtaining gas station video evidence.

Calderon met with Detective Hinojos in the morning. Calderon was not reporting a crime but

was trying to obtain information. He then received a call from Police Chief Pacillas in the

afternoon after Chief Pacillas spoke to his officers.

14. On the evening of April 6, 2023, after Calderon met with the Police Chief Pacillas and

discussed the facts of the audit, Police Chief Pacillas told Calderon that the situation involved

Theft By Credit Card and Misapplication of Fiduciary Property. Because he told Calderon that

the actions were a potential crime, Calderon immediately called CFO Robert Cortinas and City

Attorney Karla Nieman. He informed them of the investigation and the conversation with

Chief Pacillas. At that point, Calderon realized it was the report of a crime and he was required

to notify City officials. Neither CFO Cortinas nor City Attorney Nieman expressed concerns

initially to Calderon about the investigation. Calderon also tried to reach then-City Manager

Tommy Gonzalez but was unable to reach him.

Edmundo Calderon’s Original Petition Page 3

15. On the morning of April 7, 2023, around 6:30 a.m., Calderon spoke to Tommy Gonzalez

who did not express any concerns about the investigation. Instead, he complimented Calderon

on his work. However, that quickly changed when Tommy Gonzalez realized the magnitude

and issues that were discovered in the audit. For much of the rest of the day on April 7, 2023,

Calderon fielded aggressive phone calls from city staff. The City Manager, City Attorney and

the Deputy City Managers in particular were grilling him on “procedures.” The focus was not

on the findings but on certain procedures. Calderon was asked why he chose to do this audit

and why he did not tell the city officials. The biggest question which upset city officials was

why he did not tell them sooner. Calderon was then asked why he didn’t tell them that he was

reporting a crime. Calderon explained the reasons for the audit, and that he was only seeking

assistance from the police department to obtain video. It was the Police Chief who told him he

was reporting a crime. That is when he immediately reported it to City officials per his

procedure. Calderon was baffled and shocked that the focus was on him and his decision to

conduct the audit, not telling them sooner, and seeking assistance from the police department

to obtain video. Calderon was grilled on page and line of certain audit procedures. The focus

was not on the content of the audit. Once they realized the extent of the audit findings, the

City officials, who supposedly work for the citizens of El Paso, were spending all their time

trying to discredit Calderon and the audit.

16. That same evening, Calderon received a call from Tommy Gonzalez at approximately

7:00 p.m. In that call, Tommy Gonzalez aggressively questioned Calderon on why he chose

to do the audit. Tommy Gonzalez was screaming at Calderon at the top of his lungs. Following

that call, then-Deputy City Manager Cary Westin called Calderon to let him know that he and

Edmundo Calderon’s Original Petition Page 4

City Attorney Karla Nieman had been listening in on the call. Mr. Westin told Calderon the

call had been rough, but that it would get better once he took over.

17. On April 10, 2023, Calderon attended a meeting with Tommy Gonzalez, City Attorney

Nieman, CFO Cortinas, and a member of his audit staff, Darryl Olson. Deputy City Managers

Westin, Tracey Jerome, and Mario D’Agostino were present at first, but they left when

Calderon told them the internal audit procedures did not allow him to discuss the investigation

with them. During that meeting, Tommy Gonzalez aggressively yelled at Calderon telling him

that the audit meant nothing and all he had was a bunch of meaningless charts and graphs.

Tommy Gonzalez said he had been in City management for over 30 years and had seen and

knew everything. Tommy Gonzalez said there is nothing he could tell him that he had not

already seen or heard. Tommy Gonzalez said, “If you don’t like it, you can take it to the FBI.”

“I don’t care.” “All of this is just a bunch of nothing.” City Attorney Nieman and CFO Cortinas

did not say or do anything, appearing to be in agreement with Tommy Gonzalez. It was clear

to Calderon that Tommy Gonzalez was attempting to influence Calderon’s audit procedure

and the results. Tommy Gonzalez tried to make Calderon second guess himself on the findings.

Tommy Gonzalez was using a “gaslighting” approach. He was minimizing Calderon’s work.

Tommy Gonzalez was treating Calderon poorly and began the retaliation against Calderon for

conducting the audit and not notifying him and other City officials sooner and asking the police

department for help in obtaining video.

18. Over the next several weeks, members of the Financial Oversight and Audit Committee

(“FOAC”) reported to Calderon that Tommy Gonzalez was attempting to influence and

intimidate Calderon. Mayor Leeser, Representatives Kennedy, Representative Annello,

Representative Fierro, and Representative Molinar all informed him that Tommy Gonzalez

Edmundo Calderon’s Original Petition Page 5

and City Attorney Nieman were trying to discredit Calderon’s work and getting the FOAC to

stop the completion of the investigation. Representative Kennedy also informed Calderon that

City Attorney Nieman questioned Calderon’s honesty and integrity and said Calderon had too

much power. The comments and attempts to discredit Calderon by Tommy Gonzalez and City

Attorney Nieman were in retaliation for Calderon choosing to conduct the audit and not telling

them sooner, so they could notify their allies who were stealing gas from the citizens of El

Paso. Tommy Gonzalez and City Attorney Karla Nieman were upset that Calderon did not tell

them sooner and involved the police department in the investigation. This is because

Cassandra Hernandez was their ally and the person that had been chosen to run for Mayor.

Tommy Gonzalez hoped that if the votes on the El Paso City Council changed, he would be

able to get his job back. City Attorney Karla Nieman also wanted Cassandra Hernandez to not

have this stain, so she could keep the votes and not worry about losing her job. All of the

actions were done in an attempt to get the Mayor and the members of the FOAC to distrust

Calderon’s work. It was an attempt to discredit Calderon. It was an attempt to set up Calderon

for poor work evaluations. They were trying to indirectly intimidate Calderon and discredit

him and his work through those members of the FOAC as they had tried to do directly before.

19. FOAC had a meeting scheduled on May 4, 2023. On April 27, 2023, Calderon was

preparing the agenda and received a request from Assistant City Attorney Juan Gonzalez that

he be given an advanced draft copy of the results of the audit. Assistant City Attorney Juan

Gonzalez refused to approve the agenda, which is required under the Texas Open Meetings

Act, unless Calderon provided him with an advanced copy of the audit report findings. In

Calderon’s 19 years as the Chief Internal Auditor, he had never had a City Attorney or

Assistant City Attorney make it a condition to see an advanced copy of an audit report before

Edmundo Calderon’s Original Petition Page 6

approving a FOAC meeting agenda. Calderon was concerned that either Assistant City

Attorney Juan Gonzalez, City Attorney Karla Nieman, or Tommy Gonzalez would attempt to

alter the audit report. Calderon provided the report in PDF format so that it could not be

altered.

20. Representative Hernandez campaigned against Proposition J of the City Charter citing

in a press conference at the El Paso Zoo that bad things would happen and corrupt practices

would occur if it passed. These comments were directed at Calderon. On May 6, 2023, city

voters approved a City Charter Amendment moving the City’s Chief Internal Auditor to report

directly to City Council.

21. On May 11, 2023, Calderon presented his findings to the City Council in a Special City

Council Meeting. At about the 1:57 time stamp, Mayor Leeser asked him the following

questions:

Mayor: “The information and documentation, no one’s asked you to change,

alter or do anything different than what your report found.”

Me: “No sir, I won’t allow it.”

Mayor: “Do you believe that you were ever pressured or felt that someone was

trying to intimidate you at any point?”

Me: “I’d rather not answer, Mayor.”

Mayor: “Anyone from council?”

Me: “I’d rather not answer.”

Calderon did not answer the Mayor’s questions because he did not want to make the audit

process about him. Calderon was focused on completion of the investigation to inform the

citizens about what happened. Calderon needed to finish his job and report the results of his

Edmundo Calderon’s Original Petition Page 7

audit to the taxpayers. However, had Calderon answered fully, he would have said that he had

experienced pressure from the City Manager and City Attorney and their staff to impede his

independence and attempt to influence his work.

22. On May 18, 2023, Calderon met with Tommy Gonzales, CFO Cortinas, Nicole Cote,

and Kimberly Rivera to work on the budget for the audit office. During that meeting, Tommy

Gonzalez reacted negatively when Calderon asked for a supplemental budget request of

$250,000 for cybersecurity. He told Calderon, “If city council wants to take over the entire

cybersecurity program, they can have it.” “Just like you took over the city Hotel Occupancy

Tax and Franchise Tax audit, you took them over.” “I wanted Robert Cortinas to do them and

you took them over.” “You were just trying to get yourself a raise, and I’m not giving you

one.” Tommy Gonzalez was technically not Calderon’s boss at this time, however, following

the City Charter Amendment Election, Tommy Gonzalez still had control over the budget.

Tommy Gonzalez was still able to retaliate against Calderon. City employees were afraid of

Tommy Gonzalez. AlthoughTommy Gonzalez had been terminated, he was trying to get City

Council to reconsider the vote. Tommy Gonzalez did not give up on keeping his job despite

the initial vote to terminate his contract. On June 9, 2023, Calderon learned from Budget

Analyst Kimberly Rivera that the budget request had only been approved for $100,000.

Tommy Gonzalez made this decision in retaliation for Calderon choosing to conduct the audit,

not telling him sooner about it, and involving the police department in the investigation.

23. Also on May 18, 2023, Tommy Gonzalez and others conducted a budget meeting with

the Streets Department. Rene Barraza, who was present at the meeting, told Calderon that

Tommy Gonzalez tore into Richard Bristol about the audit and stated Calderon’s audit was

bad. Richard Bristol later confirmed this with Calderon. Tommy Gonzalez was attempting to

Edmundo Calderon’s Original Petition Page 8

influence the audit procedure and retaliate against Calderon for choosing to conduct the audit

and not telling City officials sooner. If they had known sooner, they could inform Cassadra

Hernandez.

24. On June 21, 2023, El Paso resident Deborah Paz submitted an ethics complaint against

Calderon. City Attorney Nieman declined to appoint an attorney to represent Calderon.

Calderon was extremely worried about having to hire his own attorney. Calderon was stressed

as to the costs based on the size and the number of allegations against him. Calderon was very

disturbed by the claim that he had influenced an election. Representative Cassandra

Hernandez, her husband Jeremy Jordan, and Tommy Gonzalez were behind the ethics

complaint in retaliation for conducting the audit, not notifying anyone sooner, and involving

the police department in the investigation. The complaint tracked the same language and

allegations against Calderon that he heard from Tommy Gonzalez and City Attorney Nieman

back in April. At Representative Cassandra Hernandez’s ethics commission meeting later in

July, Calderon saw her hugging and joking with Ms. Deborah Paz. Also, Ms. Paz worked for

Representative Hernandez and Deborah Paz officed at the same place as her husband. Deborah

Paz could not have written the complaint against Calderon alone. The complaint contained

information that could only have been obtained from Tommy Gonzalez or City Attorney Karla

Nieman. In the hearing on Representative Annello’s ethics complaint, Deborah Paz was asked

if she wrote the complaint herself. Deborah Paz said no but declined to identify who helped

her. City Attorney Karla Nieman refused to hire an attorney in retaliation of Calderon’s

decision to conduct the audit, not let them know sooner, and involving the police department

in the investigation. The ethics complaint against Calderon was dismissed before he had an

Edmundo Calderon’s Original Petition Page 9

opportunity to respond. However, it was not dismissed before he lost sleep believing the costs

would be so high that he would need to sell his house to afford a lawyer.

25. On July 5, 2023, at a regular City Council meeting, the City Council considered whether

to appoint Calderon as Chief Internal Auditor in accordance with El Paso City Charter Section

3.20(B)(5). The agenda also directed the Interim City Manager Cary Westin and Ms. Nieman

to prepare the necessary documents to implement this appointment. There was a long delay

between the May 6 election and Calderon’s appointment which was done in retaliation. To

date, Calderon has not received an employment contract or any other documents necessary for

the final appointment. The delay and continued refusal to provide a contract was done in

retaliation because Calderon conducted the audit, did not tell them sooner, and used the police

department to assist with the investigation. Representative Hernandez voted against

Calderon’s appointment in retaliation for conducting the audit, not notifying anyone sooner,

and using the police department to assist with the investigation.

26. On July 20, 2023, Calderon attended the City Ethics Review Commission Meeting

investigation into Representative Hernandez. City Attorney Nieman, allowed Representative

Hernandez’s attorney Felix Valenzuela to question Calderon aggressively, despite Calderon

only being a witness. It was very upsetting to Calderon. City Attorney Nieman allowing the

questioning by an outside attorney, and Ms. Nieman’s allowance of it to continue, was done

in retaliation for Calderon’s decision to conduct the audit, not let them know sooner, and using

the police to assist with the investigation.

27. On August 28, 2023, Calderon spoke to Representative Annello to go over the annual

audit plan. During that meeting, she mentioned to Calderon that her Ethics Review

Commission meeting was the next day. Representative Annello asked Calderon to be there.

Edmundo Calderon’s Original Petition Page 10

Calderon was worried based on what happened at Representative Hernandez ethics’ hearing,

so Calderon told her he would only attend with his attorney. Representative Annello told

Calderon that the other witnesses requested by the complainant had been given two weeks’

notice that their attendance was requested by the City Manager and City Attorney. Calderon

was not given reasonable notice by the City Attorney’s office. This was an attempt to make

Calderon look bad in front of the FOAC committee which is the oversight committee for the

Chief’s Internal Auditor in retaliation.

28. Also on August 28, 2023 Ms. Nieman called Calderon to ask him to be at

Representative Annello’s ethics hearing the following day. Calderon explained to Karla

Nieman that he needed to confirm with his attorney to see if she was available. City Attorney

Nieman asked Calderon why he needed an attorney present. City Manager Westin called

Calderon to confirm his attendance. Calderon told them both that his attorney was unavailable

so he would not be able to attend. Mr. Westin asked Calderon if he would reconsider attending

the meeting. Calderon told him that his attorney had instructed him not to attend without her.

Calderon was willing to testify on another day with his attorney present. Calderon was

concerned as to the treatment that he received at the prior Ethics Review Commission meeting.

29. On August 29, 2023, Calderon left his office at 4:00 p.m. While Calderon was driving,

he received four calls from Ms. Tracey Jerome, Deputy City Manager. Calderon did not

answer because he was driving. When Calderon arrived home, he received a call from one of

his staff members, advising him that Deputy City Manager Jerome showed up at the audit

office and was pressuring Calderon’s staff to attend the Ethics Review Commission Meeting.

Calderon spoke to Deputy City Manager Jerome by telephone and informed her that

Calderon’s staff reports only to him per the City Charter, and not to the City Manager’s office.

Edmundo Calderon’s Original Petition Page 11

Calderon instructed the staff not to attend the hearing, since he was the only person who could

give complete and accurate testimony based on writing the audit report and his knowledge and

position. Calderon believe that the late notice requesting his presence at the ethics complaint

hearing for Representative Annello, and the additional pressure on Calderon and his staff to

attend, was done in retaliation for Calderon conducting the audit, not notifying them sooner,

and involving the police department in the investigation.

30. On November 9, 2023, Calderon sent an email reporting an audit to all members of City

Council per a list server. That same day, City Representative Cassandra Hernandez sent

Calderon an email telling him not to send her emails. Representative Cassandra Hernandez

was not permitting him to do his job as the Chief Internal Auditor.

31. On December 12, 2023, El Paso City Council voted to clarify the process for complaints

against the Chief Internal Auditor Edmundo Calderon under section 2.92.160 of the City of El

Paso Ethics ordinance, listing him in the same position level as the city attorney and city

manager. Specifically, he is added as a Council Appointed employee.

32. The City of El Paso is now trying to claim that it never intended to give Calderon a

written employment contract in an attempt to avoid liability in this lawsuit. However,

Edmundo Calderon was told by City Attorney Karla Nieman and members of City Council

that he would be given a written employment contract. The human resources department of

the City of El Paso began preparing a written employment contract with a salary

recommendation based on a market analysis that they had completed. The City of El Paso is

also now claiming that Edmundo Calderon is not entitled to a written employment contract.

However, the other two similarly appointed employees reporting to City Council have written

Edmundo Calderon’s Original Petition Page 12

contracts. Additionally, it appears there are other City of El Paso employees that have written

contracts based on an open records request made by Plaintiff that the City refused to fulfill.

33. The retaliation was committed because (1) Calderon chose to do this audit; (2) Calderon

did not inform them about the audit sooner; (3) Calderon sought assistance to obtain video

from the police department; (4) Tommy Gonzalez, City Attorney Karla Nieman and others

could not influence Calderon’s work despite the gaslighting and intimidation; and (5) they

could not get Calderon to stop the audit or change the final audit findings.

34. Plaintiff requests the retaliation stop. He requests the City to follow the chain of

command for himself and his staff in compliance with the May 6 City charter election.

Calderon requests training on retaliation be taken by all City Department heads of the City of

El Paso, including those working in the City Attorney and City Manager’s office. Plaintiff

seeks a fair and equitable written employment contract that should have been offered to him.

V. COMPLETION OF THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS

35. Plaintiff has satisfied all conditions precedent to the filing of this suit including

proceeding with the grievance process from July 21, 2023, until the completion of the process

which they claim took place on November 17, 2023, the date Plaintiff received the findings.

During that time period, the statute of limitations is tolled per the Texas Whistleblower Act.

This lawsuit is timely filed within 30 days of that date.

36. Plaintiff Calderon alleges that the grievance process was not conducted for the purpose

of investigating the claim. Instead, it was an attempt to obtain discovery from Plaintiff to help

the City of El Paso and all defendants. This included getting to speak to independent witnesses

first. The grievance process attempted to limit Edmundo Calderon’s claims by changing his

statements and trying to make him sign a document waiving his rights. All of the investigation

Edmundo Calderon’s Original Petition Page 13

was done in hopes of finding some made-up non-retaliatory explanation of the actions. The

process was not independent and unbiased. It was evident because the investigator tried to

change Edmundo Calderon’s statement. Additionally, City Attorney Karla Nieman was

involved in the process despite complaints against her for retaliation and violation of the

statute.

37. Plaintiff Calderon also alleges a purposeful delay in being given the report of the

grievance process. The findings were reported to City Council on October 10, 2023. However,

they were kept from Plaintiff until November 17, 2023, one day before the 120-day deadline.

This was all done to make it more difficult and expensive to bring the lawsuit.

VI. CAUSES OF ACTION

TEXAS WHISTLEBLOWER ACT

38. Pursuant to the Texas Whistleblower Act section 554.0035, soverign immunity is

waived and abolished by the local government (City of El Paso) based on the allegations by

public employee EDMUNDO CALDERON of violations of this law. Plaintiff believes the

City of El Paso has over 5000 employees for the purpose of the analysis in the Texas

Whisltleblower Act. The burden of proof lies with Defendants because the adverse personnel

action occurred within 90 days of the report of the violation of the law.

39. Plaintiff incorporates paragraphs 12-34 above. Plaintiff EDMUNDO CALDERON,

public employee and auditor of the City of El Paso, made a good faith report to the El Paso

Police Department about the violation of the laws by City Representative CASSANDRA

HERNANDEZ involving the misuse of the City of El Paso gas card. EDMUNDO

CALDERON made a police report. As stated above in detail, Defendants TOMMY

GONZALEZ, KARLA NIEMAN, CASSANDRA HERNANDEZ and JUAN GONZALEZ

Edmundo Calderon’s Original Petition Page 14

retaliated against EDMUNDO CALDERON taking adverse personnel action against him

affecting his compensation, work assignment, and promotion.

40. With the election, EDMUNDO CALDERON was supposed to be given a written

contract. That contract could give him any of the following: additional salary, enhanced

retirement benefits, additional vacation and sick leave hours, the accrual of vacation and sick

leave hours, a process on the performance evaluation, market based annual review of salary,

life insurance and other benefits. His compensation was affected by not having a written

contract regardless of any changes. No contract was given in retaliation for his report.

EDMUNDO CALDERON had adverse personnel actions affecting his compensation, work

assignments, and promotion. Each of these acts and omissions were a proximate cause of

EDMUNDO CALDERON not receiving a written contract which had previously been

discussed resulting in some of his damages.

TORTIOUS INTERFERENCE WITH A PROSPECTIVE/CONTINUED

RELATIONS/CONTRACT-CONSPIRACY

41. Plaintiff incorporates paragraphs 12-34 above. Alternatively, Defendants DEBORAH

PAZ and JEREMY JORDAN conspired with and/or aided and abetted Defendant

CASSANDRA HERNANDEZ for the unlawful purpose of tortiously interfering with a

continued/prospective business and/or contractual relationship between EDUMUNDO

CALDERON and the City of El Paso. EDMUNDO CALDERON was going to receive a

written contract but didn’t because Defendants DEBORAH PAZ, JEREMY JORDAN, and

CASSANDRA HERNANDEZ (conspirators) made fraudulent statements about EDMUNDO

CALDERON to the public, including in the in the ethics complaints. Defendants

CASSANDRA HERNANDEZ, DEBORAH PAZ, and JEREMY JORDAN also made those

Edmundo Calderon’s Original Petition Page 15

statements about other City Representatives to bully them and make them fear retaliation.

They made the ethics complaints against City Representatives ALEXSANDRA ANNELLO

and BRIAN KENNEDY for the sole purpose of harassing each of them to bully them against

voting for a written contract with benefits for EDMUNDO CALDERON. Both ethics

complaints had no merit and were dismissed. DEFENDANT CASSANDRA HERNANDEZ,

individually, committed unlawful conduct that was done in bad faith and retaliation for the

reporting of the misuse of her public gas card.

42. Each of these acts and omissions were a proximate cause of EDMUNDO CALDERON

not receiving a written contract which had previously been discussed resulting in his damages.

43. The acts were done with malice allowing for the recovery of punitive damages against

the conspirators CASSANDRA HERNANDEZ, DEBORAH PAZ, and JEREMY JORDAN to

punish them for these actions.

VII. DAMAGES

44. Plaintiff seeks actual damages, court costs, and reasonable attorney’s fees. As a result

of the occurrence, EDMUNDO CALDERON seeks lost wages in the past and future, lost

benefits in the past and future, mental anguish in the past and future, loss of enjoyment of life

in the past and future, and other damages permitted by law.

45. Plaintiff also seeks civil penalties to be paid individually by Defendants TOMMY

GONZALEZ, KARLA NIEMAN, CASSANDRA HERNANDEZ and JUAN GONZALEZ in

the amount of $15,000 to be deposited into the state treasury pursuant to Section 554.008 of

the Texas Whistleblower Act.

Edmundo Calderon’s Original Petition Page 16

46. Plaintiff seeks changes in the City of El Paso grievance process to make it meaningful

and allow an actual investigation. EDMUNDO CALDERON also seeks training for all City

of El Paso employees and government officials on employment laws and specifically on the

Texas Whistleblower Act. Specifically, under section 554.009, the Act requires local

governments give notice to their employees of their rights under this chapter by posting a sign

in a prominent location in the workplace. The law states “shall”. Despite the clear law, no

such sign exists providing notice to employees of the rights afforded to them under this law.

VIII. JURY DEMAND

47. Plaintiff hereby demands trial by jury.

48. WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Plaintiff EDMUNDO CALDERON

prays that Defendants be cited to appear and answer, and that upon final trial, EDMUNDO

CALDERON have judgment against Defendants for all relief requested including actual

damages for lost wages in the past and future, lost benefits in the past and future, mental

anguish in the past and future, loss of enjoyment of life in the past and future, civil penalties

individually against TOMMY GONZALEZ, KARLA NIEMAN, CASSANDRA

HERNANDEZ and JUAN GONZALEZ as permitted by the Texas Whistleblower Act,

punitive damages against conspirators CASSANDRA HERNANDEZ, DEBORAH PAZ, and

JEREMY JORDAN, reasonable attorney’s fees, damage to reputation and all other damages

listed above, changes in the grievance process for a meaningful investigation, training for all

city employees and government officials on employment law violations and education on the

statutes protecting individuals like EDMUNDO CALDERON, proper signage so that

employees of the City of El Paso understand their rights, pre-judgment interest and post-

Edmundo Calderon’s Original Petition Page 17

judgment interest, court costs, and for such other and further relief, general and special, at law

or in equity, to which Plaintiff may be justly entitled.

Respectfully submitted,

LAURA ENRIQUEZ & ASSOCIATES

LAW FIRM, PLLC

__/s/Laura Enriquez_________________
Laura Enriquez
State Bar No. 00795790
221 N. Kansas Street, Suite 710
El Paso, Texas 79901
(915) 335–0333 Phone
[email protected]

ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF

EDMUNDO CALDERON

Edmundo Calderon’s Original Petition Page 18

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Filing Code Description: Petition
Filing Description: PLAINTIFF'S ORIGINAL PETITION / MR
Status as of 12/15/2023 2:21 PM MST

Associated Case Party: EDMUNDO CALDERON

Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

Laura Enriquez [email protected] 12/14/2023 4:22:57 PM SENT

Case Contacts

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Jeanette Williams [email protected] 12/14/2023 4:22:57 PM SENT