Tanu Henry | California Black Media
The Fresno City Council is weighing whether to approve or challenge a $15.4 million jury award stemming from a racial discrimination lawsuit filed by former city employee La-Kebbia “Kiki” Wilson.
With statewide and national attention on the high-profile case, elected officials are faced with a decision with major financial and political implications, reaching far beyond California’s fifth-largest city.
The city council is expected to vote on whether to award the payout or appeal the court’s decision this week.
Kellie Todd Griffin, President and CEO of the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute (CBCWEI), says Wilson’s case is a learning opportunity in a number of ways.
“The data shows us that Black women experience higher rates of discrimination in the workplace than their counterparts but oftentimes those statistics are buried and the victims’ voices are silenced,” said Todd Griffin, who went to college with Wilson and knows her personally.
Griffin says Wilson was a dedicated public servant and both her husband and son work in law enforcement in Fresno.
“This case brings visibility to something that Black women experience consistently,” said Griffin. Her case also stands out because it took the validation of her colleague, who is White, to make her story credible. The amount of the payment – probably one of one of the highest payouts for a single plaintiff and a Black woman is also important to note.”
Earlier this month, an eight-member federal jury found the city liable, awarding Wilson $15 million in damages after concluding she experienced discrimination, harassment and retaliation while working in the city’s code enforcement division.
A second plaintiff, Charles Smith, received $400,000.
According to city officials, the case has already appeared on the council’s closed-session agenda as leaders consider their next move.
Fresno District 3 City Councilmember Miguel Arias warns that “continuing to challenge the verdict through an appeal would repeat that same costly pattern.”
“It is time for the City to take responsibility, resolve this matter, and learn from the mistakes that were made under the prior city attorney. Prolonging this case through an appeal would only delay justice and increase costs to taxpayers,” Arias said in a statement.
Wilson told California Black Media enduring seven years of litigation and nearly 20 years of workplace discrimination has taken a toll on her and her family.
“It’s egregious — having to continue going through this process,” said Wilson. “It’s stressful because I feel like, finally, someone heard me and believed me and came out with an outcome that they believed was just for me and it is still not over.”
In a statement mayor Jerry Dyer acknowledged the stakes, saying the verdict would have “a significant financial impact on the city of Fresno,” particularly as officials prepare the municipal budget.
Wilson and Smith originally filed their lawsuit in 2019, alleging racial discrimination, harassment and retaliation inside the city’s code enforcement division where Wilson worked. The case took years to reach trial, with testimony focusing on workplace treatment and claims that a supervisor used a racial slur in reference to Wilson.
Wilson testified that she believed she was treated differently because of her race. During the trial, Smith said he heard a supervisor use the “N-word” to describe Wilson, an allegation that became a central issue in the proceedings.
That same supervisor also referred to Wilson as “lazy” and “a piece of s**t.”
The jury ultimately sided with the plaintiffs after deliberating for more than a day.
Following the verdict, Wilson expressed relief and vindication.
“They made me seem like I was an angry Black woman stereotype,” she said. “I’m so glad that the jury saw past that.”
Wilson’s attorneys, Kevin Schwin and Gary Goyette, also characterized the outcome as long-delayed justice, noting that the city had contested the claims for years before the case reached trial.
The council’s decision comes amid broader questions about how the city manages legal risk and workplace complaints.
City leaders must also consider whether insurance coverage could offset some of the financial burden of the judgment, though officials have not publicly detailed how much of the payout might be covered.
Arias insists he will not support any further delay or an appeal of the Wilson case.
“Continuing to litigate would be fiscally irresponsible and the wrong decision for a city that prides itself on celebrating and protecting its rich diversity,” he stated.
For Wilson, it’s time to put an end to the litigation and move on with her life.
“The things I found out in discovery, were really disgusting and the things that came out in the trial – in the deposition — should have been enough of a red flag for the city to get this thing settled,” she said.
“My attorney initiated the first mediation, but they blew us off,” Wilson continued. “They did not take us seriously. Now, it’s time for accountability.”