Hello,
I have been aware of ongoing discussions regarding a lawsuit filed by Debra Lucero against Plumas County following the abrupt termination of her CAO role.
In October of 2025, Ms. Lucero sued Plumas County for retaliation, defamation, breach of employment contract, breach of covenant of good faith, failure to perform mandatory duty to investigate complaints,
failure to perform mandatory duty to protect whistleblowers, failure to perform mandatory duty to abide by civil service rules, negligent hiring, negligent supervision, negligent training, violations of the Brown Act,
intentional infliction of emotional distress, economic injuries, lost wages, lost future wages, medical expenses, lost retirement and other benefits, relocation costs, reputational harm, attorney's fees, costs, and
more.
I was expecting so see discussion of this at a Board of Supervisors meeting, likely under a closed session agenda item, with a report out of the results of the closed session to the public after Board review of the Settlement Agreement.
When this did not happen, I filed a public record request and received the attached copy of the Settlement Agreement in response.
I think it is very important for Plumas County residents to know that the Board of Supervisors authorized a $300,000 payment to ex-CAO Lucero for release of all of her claims against Plumas County.
Although the Settlement Agreement is a release of claims Plumas County, it is quite apparent that the Board knows they have committed many of the claims made by Ms. Lucero.
It seems highly irregular that this was not shared with the tax payers of Plumas County who are directly impacted by the Board’s actions.
Please report this to the public.
Thank you.
Best regards,
Linda Judge
I have been aware of ongoing discussions regarding a lawsuit filed by Debra Lucero against Plumas County following the abrupt termination of her CAO role.
In October of 2025, Ms. Lucero sued Plumas County for retaliation, defamation, breach of employment contract, breach of covenant of good faith, failure to perform mandatory duty to investigate complaints,
failure to perform mandatory duty to protect whistleblowers, failure to perform mandatory duty to abide by civil service rules, negligent hiring, negligent supervision, negligent training, violations of the Brown Act,
intentional infliction of emotional distress, economic injuries, lost wages, lost future wages, medical expenses, lost retirement and other benefits, relocation costs, reputational harm, attorney's fees, costs, and
more.
I was expecting so see discussion of this at a Board of Supervisors meeting, likely under a closed session agenda item, with a report out of the results of the closed session to the public after Board review of the Settlement Agreement.
When this did not happen, I filed a public record request and received the attached copy of the Settlement Agreement in response.
I think it is very important for Plumas County residents to know that the Board of Supervisors authorized a $300,000 payment to ex-CAO Lucero for release of all of her claims against Plumas County.
Although the Settlement Agreement is a release of claims Plumas County, it is quite apparent that the Board knows they have committed many of the claims made by Ms. Lucero.
It seems highly irregular that this was not shared with the tax payers of Plumas County who are directly impacted by the Board’s actions.
Please report this to the public.
Thank you.
Best regards,
Linda Judge
