A former employee of Fresno’s police union has settled a wrongful termination lawsuit with the union, the parties announced on Thursday.
Anna Pine, a former business manager for the Fresno Police Officers Association (FPOA), will not go to trial against union president Jeff La Blue.
The backstory: Pine filed a lawsuit against La Blue and the FOPA in January, claiming she was fired last August for rejecting numerous sexual advances from La Blue.
La Blue denied the allegations when the lawsuit was filed.
Pine claimed that La Blue made romantic and graphic advances over text from December 2023 to March 2024, as well as physical advances that were rejected.
Pine also accused another staff member, Rebecca Johnson, of engaging in demeaning, vulgar and overtly sexualized conduct toward officers and staff, saying La Blue encouraged that behavior.
When she was fired, Pine claims that the union offered her nearly $64,000 in severance on the condition that she stayed quiet. La Blue allegedly followed that up by spreading false rumors that Pine had stolen money from the FPOA.
What they’re saying: Pine’s attorney Brian Whelan and the FPOA issued a joint statement following the settlement agreement.
“The parties in the matter between Anna Pine and FPOA have reached a mutually agreed resolution,” the statement reads. “The dispute has been resolved to the satisfaction of the parties, and no further proceedings are anticipated. The resolution reflects a compromise and should not be construed as an admission of liability or wrongdoing by any party. Out of respect for the agreement and those involved, no further details will be provided. Plaintiff has agreed to dismiss with prejudice all claims asserted against the defendants FPOA and Jeff La Blue.”
Neither party revealed any details of the settlement. Pine was initially seeking $1.95 million in damages.