Former Employee Sued San Francisco District Attorney
A discrimination trial began this week after a decade-long legal process following a 2015 workplace incident.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Human Resources
Twanda Bailey has taken her case against the San Francisco District Attorney's office to trial. She alleges that she faced a hostile work environment and racial discrimination during her 14-year tenure.
Why it matters
The case, which centers on whether a single use of a racial slur can support a discrimination claim, tests the threshold for workplace conduct standards in city government. The trial's outcome may clarify how the city handles internal complaints and professional oversight.
The litigation involves 14 years of employment tenure against a baseline of incidents starting in 2015. The final liability remains unresolved pending the jury decision.
The players
Twanda Bailey
A former San Francisco District Attorney's office employee who worked there for 14 years.
Saras Larkin
The former HR director who allegedly used a racial slur and targeted Bailey.
The details
Twanda Bailey testified that former HR director Saras Larkin repeatedly mocked her and used a racial slur in early 2015. After receiving a negative performance review that summer, Bailey sought relief through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and filed this lawsuit in late 2015. While lower courts initially blocked the case, the California Supreme Court ruled in 2024 that the claims could proceed to trial. The proceedings are expected to wrap up in less than two weeks.
Timeline
January 2015: The alleged racial slur occurred.
April 2015: Bailey filed a complaint with the EEOC.
December 2015: The initial lawsuit was filed.
2024: The California Supreme Court allowed the case to proceed.
October 7, 2026: The trial began.
Across the Bay
This case follows the precedent set by the 2024 California Supreme Court ruling regarding the legal threshold for workplace discrimination claims. It marks an effort to apply that high-court standard to the specific personnel history of the city office.
Residents should watch for the trial's conclusion, expected in less than two weeks. The verdict will set a local benchmark for how discrimination claims against city agencies are adjudicated.
The takeaway
This trial underscores the significant legal weight now given to single instances of discriminatory language in the workplace. Follow the coming verdict to see how the court settles the long-standing dispute between the plaintiff and the city.
Further reading
For more on how city departments manage workplace disputes, check our Human Resources section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports.
