A former assistant for Fresno County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld has filed a claim against the county alleging she was fired for filing a complaint over workplace violence.

Jennifer Ortega, a former television news anchor, was working in Bredefeld’s office for about six months as his community relations and digital media manager when she alleges Bredefeld’s chief of staff Daniel Gai blew up at her on June 13.

Ortega complained about the alleged incident and was fired three months later, she said.

“I am devastated,” she said in an interview with The Fresno Bee.

“I had a successful career in television, and I got out of that to have more flexibility in my life, and I chose to work for Garry because he had a reputation for getting things done,” she said. “In the short time I was there we were a successful team, and then Danny Gai just lost it one day, and I am out of a job.”

Ortega has filed a $1 million claim against the county seeking damages for lost income and emotional distress. Her attorneys, Laura Brown and Peter Bradley of Bradley & Brown of Fresno, said the claim is a required precursor to filing a civil lawsuit. It’s like a request for a settlement, she said.

“The intent behind it is to allow government entities to resolve problems themselves,” Brown said.

Gai did not respond to a request for comment for this report.

The county has 45 days from the time the claim was made in order to respond. If they deny the claim, the person filing the claim can proceed with taking the issue to court.

Ortega said the incident happened on June 13 after a text she sent prompted Gai and Bredefeld to cancel lunch plans and come back to the office. Ortega’s text message was related to a request for a media interview with the supervisor. When Gai arrived back to the office, Ortega says she could see that he was visibly upset, angry that he had to cancel his lunch plans.

Gai proceeded to yell at her for nearly 10 minutes, she claims. She says she ran to her office to get away from him, but he followed her.

“He slammed my door and hovered over my desk with his finger in my face,” Ortega said told The Bee. “Then he said, ‘Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. I got you this job.’”

Ortega said she began to feel uncomfortable and told him to please open her office door.

“I did not know what he was capable of because I knew he had a history of domestic violence,” she said. “I was worried for my safety.”

GV Wire was first to report that a claim was filed by Ortega.

Gai was convicted of domestic violence charges in January 2022 in an incident involving his fiancée and her mother, court records show.

Gai, who was part of Bredefeld’s city council staff at the time, pleaded no contest to one count of committing corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, three counts of assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, and one count of child endangerment.

He was facing 11 years in prison, but Superior Court Judge Jeff Hamilton gave him four years of probation, based on his lack of criminal history.

Bredefeld said Tuesday that while he normally doesn’t comment on pending claims or litigation he is making an exception.

“I know the county’s actions were completely justified, and the many facts demonstrate Ms. Ortega’s claim is baseless,” he said in a statement.

Ortega said she is saddened by Bredefeld’s lack of support.

“I believe in his cause and I believe in him, but I am extremely disappointed right now,” she said. “He told me my job was secure and that the way Danny treated me was unacceptable.”