Ex-exec sues Santa Anita Park for alleged forced resignation

Santa Anita Park is being sued by its former human resources director, who alleges she was forced to resign in 2021 after experiencing a backlash when she complained the company was not following a safe coronavirus protocol.

Plaintff Jill Eknoian-Lopez’s Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit alleges retaliation and constructive discharge and also names other defendants, including the Stronach Group Inc., the Arcadia race track’s owner. She seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages in the suit brought Friday.

A Santa Anita representative did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the suit brought Friday.

Eknoian-Lopez was hired in June 2015, had a positive work record and received favorable commendations and pay increases, the suit states. After the COVID-19 outbreak, she spoke out about what she believed were unlawful and risky conditions at SAP relating to compliance with coronavirus safety laws and the company’s agreement with Los Angeles County health officials who permitted SAP to resume racing operations at a time when other businesses remain closed, the suit states.

After originally being shut down due to the health orders, SAP aggressively lobbied the county for permission to conduct business by maintaining that it could operate as a self-contained bubble, the suit states.

“In reality, SAP did not comply with the legally requirements imposed on it to operate,” the suit alleges.

Some people, including “local senior leaders,” entered and left the facility without complying with the requirements for doing so and did not comply with the required social distancing or facial covering rules, according to the suit.

“The individuals within the bubble were holding large parties or social gatherings at which they would not wear face coverings and not socially distance,” the suit states.

The SAP reopening plan approved by the county required the reporting of positive COVID-19 tests to health officials once a certain level was reached, the suit states.

“SAP violated these reporting rules by delaying, re-testing or refusing to report positive tests,” the suit alleges.

Eknoian-Lopez reported her concerns to her supervisors and took part in an investigation in which they were confirmed, the suit states.

“When word got out that Ms. Eknoian-Lopez reported the park’s senior leaders, the retaliation against her was swift and unrelenting,” the suit states. “Ms. Eknoian-Lopez was isolated, her work suddenly became micro-managed and scrutinized, duties were taken from her (and) she was not provided her full bonus.

Eknoian-Lopez resigned in March 2021 due to her “unbearable work environment” and has suffered financial losses since then, according to her suit.

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