Two of three employees of the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office who alleged that management gave favorable treatment to connected taxpayers have been awarded damages by a jury.
Stephen Adamus, Yvonne Austin, and Scott Woods alleged in a long- running Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit that County Assessor Jeffrey Prang, his top managers and county lawyers violated tax codes to benefit property owners with ties to elected officials by giving them favorable decisions on reassessments. The trio also contended that the county intentionally lost legal cases, reversed property tax decisions and reimbursed millions of dollars to individuals and corporations in back taxes.
On March 11, Judge Christopher Lui signed a judgment awarding Adamus $570,000 based on a January jury verdict. Austin won $255,000, but Woods was not granted any damages…