In a significant legal development, Mountain View has reached a $20,000 settlement with Marie Richardson, a former librarian who filed a lawsuit alleging workplace discrimination and retaliation.
The lawsuit, filed in 2023, claimed that the city violated Richardson’s civil rights by refusing to accommodate her disability and retaliated against her after she sought to renew a 90-day remote work agreement due to her compromised immune system.
Although the city disputes the claims and admits no wrongdoing, both parties have agreed to a settlement that resolves the case. As part of the agreement, they also waived any future claims against each other.
Richardson, who had worked at the Mountain View library for over 20 years, was denied the opportunity to continue working from home, a temporary measure initiated during the pandemic.
The city argued that remote work was not a permanent accommodation and that library policy required employees to work on-site daily. Richardson’s employment ended in July 2024, marking the conclusion of her tenure with the city.