COUNCIL AGENDA: 4/28/2026
FILE: 26-533
ITEM: 2.16
TO
: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SUSANA ALCALA-
WOOD, City Attorney
SUBJECT: SETTLEMENT OF LOESSBERG
v. CITY OF SAN JOSE
DATE: April 21, 2026
RECOMMENDAT
ION
Approve a settlement in the case of Loessberg v. City of San Jose in the amount of $198,890.00 and authorize the City Attorney to execute a Settlement Agreement.
OUTCOME
Settle the lawsuit brou
ght by Plaintiff Casilia Loessberg with a payment by the City of $198,890.00, each side to bear their own costs, including attorneys’ fees.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff is a former San Jose firefighter who took a disab ility retirement from the City in
2023. Plaintiff sued the City under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, alleging that between 2016 and 2021 she was subjected to discrimination, harassment, and retaliation by male Fire Department co-workers based on allegations of inappropriate and unwanted behavior and comments.
ANALYSIS
Under the proposed s
ettlement, Plaintiff will release all claims in exchange for payment from the City in the amount of $198,890.00. This is a negotiated settlement between the parties to avoid the risks inherent in litigation.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST
This memorandum and the Settlement Agreement have been pos ted on the City’s
website for the April 28, 2026, agenda.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
April 23, 2026
Subject: Settlement of Loessberg v. City of San Jose
T-42879/2303919
L-32453-16/2303919
COST SUMMARY/IMPLICATIONS
The settlement will be paid from the City’s claims reserve fund.
CEQA
Not a Project. File No. PP17-003 Agreements/Contracts (New or Amended) resulting in no physical changes to the environment.
SUSANA ALCALA-WOOD
City Attorney
By________/s/________________
KENDRA E. MCGEE
Senior Deputy City Attorney
cc: Jennifer Maguire, City Manager
For questions, please contact SUSANA ALCALA-WOOD, City Attorney, at (408) 535- 1900.