Stockton, CA – After enduring all manner of humiliation, Armando Orozco filed a lawsuit against the Stockton Unified School District (SUSD). The whistleblower retaliation suit alleges disability discrimination, failure to prevent harassment and much more.

Armando Orozco was employed by SUSD as Director of Facilities. When he was hired in 2021, he had more than 25 years’ worth of knowledge and experience related to how public school district facilities should work. When he was immediately confronted by various regulatory and legal violations, he raised his concerns with upper management within SUSD. 

Specifically, he witnessed a corrupt bidding process when the District was accepting bids for a new UVC protectant System. When he called out the failure of SUSD officials to accept the lowest bid, he alleges he was told to “keep his mouth shut” as well as “it’s what the board wants.” According to the complaint, it is believed that members of the board were directly involved in the bidding process and had personal motivation to grant the contract to one particular company.

“What’s shameful here is that Armando was simply attempting to have the school do right by taxpayers and most importantly students with how money was spent, but instead those in power wanted to use the funds in unscrupulous ways,” said attorney Derek Ulmer. “He suffered for standing up for students.”

Throughout his time at SUSD, Armando pleaded with his supervisors to abide by California laws and regulations. However, this was met with frustration and resistance, and ultimately SUSD officials began a campaign of harassment, retaliation and disparate treatment, according to the complaint.

The complaint listed a significant number of financial improprieties perpetrated by the district, totaling significant sums of money. SUSD officials were in control of millions of dollars in their budget, but were found time and again to be using money inappropriately, according to the complaint. An investigation by The San Joaquin County Grand Jury revealed SUSD management and Board members were not adhering to policies and procedures regarding financial transactions, and funds were not used in the best interest of students, families, staff and the District itself. It was this behavior that Armando attempted to call out that led to his harassment by SUSD officials.

Armando was ultimately thrown under the bus after he participated in Grand Jury proceedings; he even endured threats to his personal safety. According to the lawsuit, the District made it a priority to get rid of Armando by backing an unfounded law enforcement raid on his house. Armando was subsequently placed on leave and closed door session materials were leaked to the press in order to cause harm to his reputation, among other forms of workplace harassment. 

“His life was ruined, and in many ways still is,” said attorney Amanda Malucchi. “Our hope is to hold the Stockton Unified School District responsible for their actions. Management and trustees acted inappropriately, and punished Armando when he refused to participate.”

Before his two-year stint at SUSD, Armando had never suffered such accusations in his previous 26 years of employment. Now, his reputation lies in tatters, he suffered a mental breakdown, was forced to work in a toxic environment, and is unable to gain employment elsewhere as a result.

The case is Armando Orozco v. Stockton Unified School District, San Joaquin County Superior Court, Case No. STK-CV-UWT-2024-006441.