Former Curren Price staffer says she was fired for 'snitching' to prosecutors

A former senior field deputy for City Councilman Curren Price is suing the city of Los Angeles, alleging she was wrongfully terminated in January by Price's office on grounds she was a "snitch" who gave prosecutors information about the councilman and alleged pay-for-play schemes.

Angie Reyes English's Los Angeles Superior Court whistleblower suit seeks unspecified damages for lost wages and emotional distress. A representative for the City Attorney's Office did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the suit brought Friday.

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English was hired by the city in July 2013 as a senior field deputy, also known as a council aide, in Price's council district 9. She had previously worked for Price for six years when he served in the state assembly and state senate.

The District Attorney's Office charged Price in June 2023 with 10 criminal counts of grand theft by embezzlement, conflict of interest and perjury. Prosecutors allege that Price, now 73, took part in pay-for-play schemes that benefited his wife's company and were not listed on government financial disclosure forms.

Price and those closest to him, including Deputy Chief of Staff Jose Ugarte, believed English had disclosed information to prosecutors or other government agencies, according to the suit, which further states that Ugarte told English that district 9 employees were angry at her because they believed she had provided information to help prosecute Price.

"Plaintiff reasonably believed that this phone call was designed to intimidate and browbeat her," according to the suit.

English emailed her supervisors and human resources that she was being intimidated by those persons who believed she was the "snitch" who helped prosecutors with their case against the councilman, the suit states.

But in July 2023, English was placed on an involuntary medical leave until Oct. 18 of that year, the suit states. When she returned, she was subjected to more harassment that harmed her reputation, according to the suit, which further alleges that her supervisor told others to keep an eye on her.

English, who believed the alleged harassment of her violated the state Labor Code, was terminated on Jan. 9, leaving a "permanent black stain on her previously untarnished work record," the suit states.

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