 Photo Town Crier File Photo
Gregorio Rodriguez and Ignacia Carranza, at Westwind Barn, claimed they were mistreated by the town and barn managers. Friends of Westwind Inc., the non-profit organization that has overseen Westwind Barn operations for 30 years, agreed last week to a $600,000 settlement with former ranch hands Ignacio Carranza and Gregorio
Rodriguez.
Carranza and Rodriguez alleged in a civil lawsuit filed in 2006 that they were subjected to racial slurs, substandard living conditions and unpaid overtime work as barn employees.
“I think it is a terrific result for my clients,” said Russell Leibson, who represented the men. “I don’t know if this is one of the largest race settlements in California … but it certainly is a significant settlement.”
The two men sought more than $500,000 from Friends of Westwind and the town of Los Altos Hills, which owns the barn. The men claimed they endured racial slurs uttered by Friends board members and a city council member.
Friends president Linda Swan said she wasn’t on the board when the incident happened and was unable to comment on the claims.
The town of Los Altos Hills, named with Friends as a plaintiff in the case, settled with the men for $75,000 in spring 2007.
Because the town assumed operational management of the barn Tuesday, the Friends board has disbanded.
“We no longer have any reason to exist after July 1,” Swan said.
Town staff closed the living quarters at the barn in winter 2006, citing health and safety hazards. Carranza was living there with his wife and three children in two unventilated rooms.
The suit has more than a monetary value, Leibson said.
“You have a bunch of well-to-do people riding their horses around and not caring much about employees,” he said. “These horses had it better than their own employees.”
With the lawsuit resolved, the town’s efforts to update the historical facility are moving forward.
“I’m glad that we finally got (the case) behind us,” Swan said. “I know a lot of people worked hard on this issue to get it settled. … Now we can move forward and get the barn fixed up.”
After the city attorney informed town staff they would be “negligent” if they didn’t upgrade the aging facility to prevent collapse, the council voted last month to change barn management from Friends of Westwind to town control, an action discussed over the past two years.
As the case ended last week, an ad hoc advisory committee assisting with the transition between stable operators held its second meeting to discuss possible management models at the barn. Committee members said they hope to present the information to the council by August, according to Councilman Mike O’Malley, committee liaison.
Although the committee is charged with addressing management models, not barn restoration, the addition of staff quarters could impact the type of management model chosen.
Contact Shannon Barry at
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