Bennett v. Rancho Cal. Water Dist.

*911INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff Shawn Bennett sued defendant Rancho California Water District (the District) for whistleblower retaliation in violation of Labor Code section 1102.5, subdivision (b).1 At the jury trial, the trial court excluded evidence showing Bennett's relationship with the District was anything other than an employment relationship. Citing an administrative law judge's prior finding Bennett had been the District's employee for purposes of retirement benefits *24eligibility through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), the trial court concluded the doctrine of…