Case: Amelia Scannell v. Louis DeJoy
2:24-cv-09280 | U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Filed Date: Oct. 28, 2024
Case Ongoing
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Case Summary
The lawsuit involves a former transgender employee who alleged that she was harassed and discriminated against because of her gender identity.
On October 28, 2024, a transgender postal worker filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against the Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The plaintiff alleged that she worked for the USPS while initially presenting as a male and was reluctant to present herself as a woman at work due to the anti-LGBTQ+ environment. However, one day, a coworker discovered that she was transgender and the information was quickly spread throughout the post office, leading to harassment, including derogatory comments, homophobic slurs, and physical threats. After she filed an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complaint, the parties settled and the plaintiff was transferred to a different post office. However, she was eventually ordered to return to the original hostile post office, which caused severe mental disability and led to her constructive discharge. The complaint alleged (1) harassment, discrimination, and retaliation in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and (2) harassment, discrimination, failure to reasonably accommodate, and retaliation in violation of the Rehabilitation Act, seeking economic and non-economic damages, injunctive relief, and attorney's fees and costs. The case was assigned to District Judge Wesley L. Hsu and Magistrate Judge Margo A. Rocconi.
On February 6, 2025, the plaintiff filed a first amended complaint, expanding the factual allegations while leaving the claims unchanged. The defendant moved to dismiss the plaintiff’s discrimination and retaliation claims; however, the court denied the motion on April 22, ruling that the plaintiff’s failure to exhaust administrative remedies did not bar the lawsuit and that discrete discriminatory acts supported the hostile work environment claims.
On May 13, 2025, the court ordered an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) for this case and to complete the proceeding by May 1, 2026. While the parties stipulated to the ADR panel mediator and a mediation was set for March 12, 2026, they continued engaging in discovery and preparation for trial. The jury trial is scheduled on September 28, 2026.
As of April 3, 2026, the case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Chise Mori (4/3/2026)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69318766/amelia-scannell-v-louis-dejoy/
Last updated April 6, 2026, 10:48 p.m.
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Oct. 28, 2024
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
A transgender woman who is a former employee of the U.S. Postal Service
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal
Postmaster General
Defendant Type(s):
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act), 29 U.S.C. § 701
Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e
Other Dockets:
Central District of California 2:24-cv-09280
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Area:
Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc.)
Harassment / Hostile Work Environment
Discrimination Basis:
Affected Sex/Gender(s):
LGBTQ+:
Case Summary of Amelia Scannell v. Louis DeJoy, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, http://www.dev.clearinghouse.net/case/46528/ (last updated 4/3/2026).