Suit claims judge tossed attorney in Lake Shasta
Earlier this month, Humboldt County Deputy Public Defender Rory Kalin filed a lawsuit against Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Gregory Elvine-Kreis and others, alleging battery, assault, and infliction of emotional distress.
Kalin’s complaint claims he was at a Memorial Day event last year with colleagues when he was “verbally and physically attacked” by ElvineKreis, a judge who previously worked in the county’s Public Defender’s Office. The suit claims ElvineKreis “called (Kalin) ‘Jew-boy’ repeatedly,” before “throwing (Kalin), fully clothed, without provocation or warning, off of the boat into Lake Shasta.”
Kalin’s complaint claims the act resulted in humiliation in front of his colleagues and “caused injury and exacerbated a traumatic brain injury suffered by (Kalin) just a month prior” when he was
struck by a golf ball hit by an unnamed party.
The lawsuit also takes aim at several figures in the Public Defender’s Office — including Public Defender Marek Reavis who is currently absent from his position for reasons the county has declined to state, citing the confidentiality of personnel information. In Reavis’ absence, Conflict Counsel Supervising Attorney Meagan O’Connell was named as an interim public defender. It’s unclear whether these changes are in any way related to the lawsuit.
According to Kalin’s complaint, he began work in the Public Defender’s Office in October 2017. His work performance was described as “above average” and “outstanding,” until harassment began by ElvineKreis who “maintains a relationship with the Public Defender’s Office” and Kalin’s immediate supervisor, Deputy Public Defender Luke Brownfield.
“Mr. Brownfield not only ignored the harassment and discrimination but also took part in an effort to cover it up, demote (Kalin), and to damage his reputation and career,” the complaint states. “In addition, the Public Defender, Mr. Reavis, took part in this effort by harassing (Kalin) while he was in the hospital, violating his right of privacy while in the hospital, making false statements about (Kalin) to his colleagues and the Humboldt County Bench, and took steps to demote and terminate (Kalin) while he was on medical leave.”
Kalin’s complaint claims during the Memorial Day weekend get-together in Shasta County, Elvine-Kreis drank heavily and became belligerent.
“During this time, (Kalin) also observed (ElvineKreis) acting inappropriately with women, making inappropriate remarks about women and flirting with other men’s wives,” the complaint states.
According to the compliant, the weekend event, planned by Brownfield’s wife, was a gathering at an RV park in Shasta County. As part of the weekend events, Brownfield rented a boat that fit around 25 people to celebrate on Shasta Lake.
Kalin’s complaint states that the racial epithets uttered by Elvine-Kreis began 30 minutes into the ride.
“(Elvine-Kreis) laughed loudly while making these statements,” the complaint states, alleging he used the slur when speaking to Kalin’s wife.
According to the complaint, Kalin said he held his tongue because he “regularly appears before” Elvine-Kreis in his role as a deputy public defender. Then after Elvine-Kreis allegedly said Kalin “dressed as an old man,” the judge shoved the attorney off the boat.
Kalin said he lost an iPhone, car keys, wallet and prescription medicine as a result of being pushed in the lake.
At one point after the boat returned to shore, Elvine-Kreis approached Kalin’s wife and asked, ” ‘where is your girlfriend’ referring to (Kalin) as ‘girlfriend’ when he was looking for (Kalin) at a gathering later that day.”
The complaint says that after the traumatic Memorial Day weekend events, Kalin was not treated the same in the office. He claims colleagues “distanced themselves.” Additionally, Kalin alleges his “supervisor Luke Brownfield (a close personal friend of the Defendant), along with other management, made false accusations against (Kalin)” that allegedly came from the bench (Elvine-Kreis) sits on.” Kalin claims the allegations resulted in an “adverse employment action” against him.
The adverse working conditions and the impacts of the head trauma later resulted in “seizures and increased anxiety and panic attacks.”
Kalin is seeking monetary compensation for the damages and to cover the cost of the lawsuit. Kalin is being represented by local attorney Cyndy DayWilson.
Humboldt County is not a party in the lawsuit, though the public defender’s office is considered county staff. In an email, a county spokesperson declined to comment on this story.
“To the extent allegations are raised against county staff, the case will be monitored and if appropriate a comment may be provided in the future,” said spokesperson Sean Quincey.
Kalin, Reavis, Brownfield and Day-Wilson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.