As reported online by the Sun on March 16, the Woodland Hills-based law offices of Goldberg and Gage sent a notice of governmental claim in mid-February to the city of Santa Maria on behalf of “Jane Doe,” identified in the notice as the “Explorer raped by Santa Maria Police Officer Albert Covarrubias, Jr.”
Such a notice is usually the first stage in the process of filing a suit.
The notice reads, in part:
“Jane Doe, a minor and an explorer for the City of Santa Maria was supposed to be under the protection of the City of Santa Maria as a participant in the Police Explorers a group of young adults who are interested in pursuing careers in law enforcement. As such these explorers assist the police department. Commencing on or about new years eve, December 31, 2011 and onto January 1, 2012 Santa Maria Police Officer Albert Covarrubias Jr. embarked upon a nefarious scheme to intimidate and rape Jane Doe. In direct violation of rules and procedures set in place to avoid injury or harm to explorers, the City of Santa Maria allowed Police Officer Albert Covarrubias Jr., to take Jane Doe a minor in the care and under the protection of the Santa Maria explorer program in a vehicle after midnight. Albert Covarrubias, Jr. drove the minor female explorer during the course and scope of his employment with the City of Santa Maria and started to intimidate and harass her by attempting to engage in unwanted sexual advances.
“The unwanted sexual advances continued without abatement, with the knowledge and acquiescence of the City of Santa Maria and its police department who watched Albert Covarrubias, Jr. engage in improper conduct of sexual harassment, sexual battery, false imprisonment, assault, battery, witness intimidation, and rape during the month of January 2012 until police officer Albert Covarrubias, Jr. was killed by fellow police officers.”
The notice goes on to say that the city disseminated information that led Jane Doe to be identified, which in turn led to her being subject to “ridicule, contempt, hatred” and her having to leave her school.
“The City of Santa Maria was on notice of these sexual assaults, witness intimidation and deadly threats, however it allowed these actions to continue,” the notice reads. “Finally, The City of Santa Maria decided to conduct an arrest on Albert Covarrubias, Jr., who was killed in a shoot out with police.”
The notice’s description of the “injury, damage or loss incurred” includes “general and special damages, the full specifics of which are not yet fully known … .” The notice is dated Feb. 17, 2012; is signed by Terry M. Goldberg; and was marked received by the Santa Maria city clerk on Feb. 21.
Goldberg, when contacted by the Sun, declined to add any information or comment. Assistant City Attorney Philip Sinco said the city had no comment, as the issue involves an open investigation.
This article appears in Mar 22-29, 2012.