Estrada v. City of Los Angeles

**Estrada v. City of Los Angeles: Volunteers Cannot Sue for Workplace Discrimination** **What Happened** Mario Estrada served as a volunteer Police Reserve Officer for the City of Los Angeles. When he experienced what he believed was disability discrimination during his volunteer service, he sued the city under California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), claiming he was treated unfairly because of his disability. **What the Court Decided** Both the trial court and appeals court ruled against Estrada. The courts determined that because he was a volunteer and not a paid employee, he could not use California's main anti-discrimination law to sue for disability discrimination. The law only protects people who have an employment relationship with their employer, which requires compensation beyond just reimbursement for expenses. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling clarifies an important limitation in California's workplace discrimination protections. Volunteers, interns, and others who work without pay generally cannot use the state's primary anti-discrimination law if they face unfair treatment. Workers should understand that these legal protections typically only apply to actual employees who receive compensation. Anyone considering volunteer work should be aware they may have fewer legal protections than paid workers.