Judge Dismisses Villanueva's Lawsuit Against County

A federal judge has dismissed former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva's lawsuit against the county over his placement on a 'do not rehire' list. Villanueva claimed that he was unfairly investigated and that his due process and First Amendment rights were violated after the county's oversight panel found he had harassed and discriminated against employees. U.S. District Judge Stephen Wilson ruled that Villanueva did not demonstrate how the designation harmed him, as he failed to provide evidence of job denial due to the list. The judge dismissed the case without prejudice, allowing Villanueva two weeks to amend and re-file his lawsuit. Villanueva's attorney expressed confidence in their case, while county lawyers hailed the ruling as a win.