Lawsuit claims lawmaker retaliated against employee for reporting misconduct

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

A former staffer to Assemblymember Anamarie Ávila Farías has sued the first-term Democratic lawmaker and the California Assembly over allegations of racial discrimination and whistleblower retaliation.

Pa’tanisha Davis Pierson, who worked as a district director for Ávila Farías’ Concord office, alleges in a lawsuit filed on Oct. 21 in Contra Costa Superior Court that the assemblymember retaliated against her after she told the Assembly human resources department that she believed a staff member was doing campaign work on state time. 

Davis Pierson, who is Black, said Ávila Farías stripped her responsibilities after she reported that the lawmaker allowed a staffer to conduct campaign duties for Ávila Farías from the district office. The complaint also accuses Ávila Farías of racial discrimination for yelling at Black staff and interns and giving them less desirable work than other employees. Davis Pierson said she received an “unwanted hug” in the months leading up to her resignation letter in April.

The employee still works for Ávila Farías.

“I vigorously deny the allegations and will defend against them through the appropriate legal process,” Ávila Farías said in an emailed statement. “I am proud to have one of the most diverse staffs in the Legislature, reflecting the diversity of the Contra Costa County community.” 

On Nov. 3, the Assembly’s Workplace Conduct Unit opened an investigation into Davis Pierson’s allegations. Ten days later, the employee Davis Pierson reported “body-checked” her in the hallway of their district office, according to the lawsuit.

Davis Pierson also claims the Assembly human resources department retaliated shortly after she made her report when it refused to accommodate her requests for time off and a hybrid schedule following a medical procedure.

The Assembly Rules Committee, which oversees labor disputes among lawmakers and staff, is aware of the lawsuit but declined to comment, citing personnel issues and pending litigation, according to Chief Administrative Officer Lia Lopez.

Davis Pierson and her attorneys, David Pearson and Stefano Abbasciano, did not immediately return phone calls and voice messages seeking comment Wednesday.

The Workplace Conduct Unit did not immediately return a phone call and message inquiring about the status of the investigation. 

Davis Pierson was on the job for less than nine months when she made her whistleblower report, according to the lawsuit. She began working for Ávila Farías’ office in January 2025, just a few weeks after the freshman lawmaker joined the Assembly after nearly a decade on the board of directors of the California Housing Finance Agency.

Ávila Farías is up for reelection in her heavily Democratic district in November.