Sidelined Prosecutors Behind Menendez Brothers Resentencing Sue DA Hochman for Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation

Two Los Angeles County deputy district attorneys sued the L.A. District Attorney Nathan Hochman for harassment, discrimination and retaliation for his office’s handling of the Menendez brothers’ murder case.

Nancy Theberge and Brock Lunsford recommended a resentencing trial for the convicted murderers that the DA’s office did not agree with. The lawyers claimed in February that they were wrongfully demoted by the new DA Hochman, saying the move came in retaliation of their support to resentence Lyle and Erik Menendez last fall.

The two attorneys each filed a lawsuit against the DA Monday, seeking economic damages and non-economic damages psychological damages.

“Nancy and Brock followed the law and paid for it with their careers. Their resentencing motion was grounded in fact, supported by the law, and filed with integrity,” Justin Shegerian, attorney for Theberge and Lunsford, said. “They are moving forward with this suit, at great personal risk, because they hope to protect others from a dangerous District Attorney’s office that believes it’s above the law.”

Theberge and Lunsford detailed retaliation they experiences following Hochman’s election last fall in a lawsuit obtained by TheWrap, including being demoted to junior positions and harm to their reputations.

Theberge alleged she was discriminated against for her age and gender. Lunsford alleged that he was publicly defamed and called “incompetent” and “quilsing,” meaning a Nazi collaborator, by a superior.

Before Hochman was elected, the two prosecutors supported former D.A. George Gascón’s decision to resentence the brothers. Both prosecutors were then demoted. Theberge, who was in charge of L.A. County’s resentencing unit, was transferred out of the DA’s office, and Lunsford, who reported to Theberge at the time, was demoted to a low-level non-supervisory position in a remote branch office.

Theberge and Lunsford are seeking $5.25 million each in damages, according to the filings, which have been reviewed by TheWrap. The prosecutors claim their careers and reputations have been affected by their department transfers at the end of last year.

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