L.A. County Sheriff's Deputy James Mee will now be heard by a jury on his claim that the actor made religious discrimination and his department tried to cover it up.
- February 23, 2011
AceShowbiz - A judge has dismissed an appeal by officials from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department objecting to a lawsuit filed by the traffic cop who arrested Mel Gibson for drink driving.
Sheriff's Deputy James Mee lodged a complaint against his employers last year, alleging he had been "unjustly denied" a promotion following the scandal surrounding Gibson's 2006 bust, during which the "Braveheart" star made anti-Semitic comments towards the Jewish officer.
Mee claimed he became a victim of "religious discrimination" after the controversy, and alleged video footage of Gibson's arrest was erased and he was instructed to rewrite his report, deleting the religious slurs allegedly made by the actor, who was a friend of then-Sheriff Lee Baca.
Department heads attempted to have the action dismissed by arguing Mee's claims that he was discriminated against because of his religion are unsupportable, adding that he waited too long to lodge the suit.
But a judge has rejected the County of Los Angeles' challenge and the case will now be heard by a jury.
