Charles Wu. According to Wu, Verduzco became very angry and yelled. Verduzco
said that although the discussion was tense, he did not yell.
The next day, Verduzco and Wu attended a race equity conference
for government employees. When asked to discuss barriers to a successful antiracist
workplace, Verduzco said management was not supportive of addressing racism.
There was significant ambient noise in the room—an echoing gymnasium
with many people in groups speaking at once—and Verduzco spoke loudly.
He also used profanity. According to Wu, Verduzco yelled at him and
expressly named several DNRP leaders as holding back equity work and
perpetuating racism at their workplace. Verduzco said he never yelled or
directed his comments at anyone. When they returned from the conference,
Wu informed Verduzco there would be an investigation into his conduct, and,
4
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Verduzco v. King County
No. 103749-0
if his behavior continued, he would “be asked to leave the building.”
Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 2315.
Verduzco then received a parking ticket at the DNRP building parking lot.
He e-mailed Wu to report this because he felt he had been targeted for the ticket
due to his race and ethnicity. Wu issued Verduzco another letter of expectations
regarding his use of county e-mail to “accuse” the parking attendant of
racist behavior. Id. at 2306-07. The letter directed Verduzco to address
personal issues via private e-mail and again warned that further incidents could lead
to discipline and termination.
Around the same time, Verduzco received a substandard performance review
for the first time. The performance review cited his “inappropriate use of county
e-mail.” 12 VRP at 1455.