Melanie
@passifloraresearch.com
Professional genealogist & attorney. Former civil AUSA. She/her. Mom of two humans, 4 cats, 1 dog, and 2 guinea pigs. Also, I feed squirrels.
beehiiv: https://integrity-through-time.beehiiv.com/
beehiiv: https://integrity-through-time.beehiiv.com/
Cotton candy sky time!
November 14, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Cotton candy sky time!
Post a bird to support @sbworkersunited.org and warn your followers not to buy Starbucks for the duration of the strike 🪶
November 13, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Post a bird to support @sbworkersunited.org and warn your followers not to buy Starbucks for the duration of the strike 🪶
November 9, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Still stands for Churu
October 31, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Still stands for Churu
Lovingly described as a basketball with legs
October 19, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Lovingly described as a basketball with legs
This cat’s job is Box.
October 17, 2025 at 3:01 PM
This cat’s job is Box.
Celebrate a wedding on Saturday; hunt for ancestors on Sunday. #geneaolgy
October 5, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Celebrate a wedding on Saturday; hunt for ancestors on Sunday. #geneaolgy
The country is rapidly degrading, so I’m finding joy where I can. Made a new friend at an estate sale on Sunday.
September 23, 2025 at 2:31 PM
The country is rapidly degrading, so I’m finding joy where I can. Made a new friend at an estate sale on Sunday.
Every time I feel like giving up, I’m going to remember that just last Saturday, the indomitable Dolores Huerta is still leading chants of “Si Se Puede!” (She says to vote yes on Prop 50, btw.)
September 19, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Every time I feel like giving up, I’m going to remember that just last Saturday, the indomitable Dolores Huerta is still leading chants of “Si Se Puede!” (She says to vote yes on Prop 50, btw.)
My resignation email was leaked within hours of sending it to the Legal staff and Executive teams. The next 2.5 years were...interesting. But resignation protected the litigation: DFEH continued to litigate the case, instead of folding, finally settling for $50m. 6/6
![Dear Kevin and Legal Team
As you may know, tomorrow is Janette's last day with DFEH. Janette cannot send a farewell email herself because she does not have access to her DFEH email. Tomorrow will also be my last day with DFEH as I am resigning, effective tomorrow, April 13, 2022, in protest of Janette's termination and DFEH's now-apparent lack of independence as described below.
Throughout our tenure here, Janette and I have diligently represented DFEH, and we have upheld its independent duty to prosecute civil rights cases in court, without interference, as the California State Legislature intended. Our cases have significantly advanced equal pay, anti-harassment protections, and our state's other strong civil rights laws on behalf of all Californians. For example, in December 2021, we reached an unprecendented government settlement on behalf of two thousand women in DFEH v. Riot Games, Inc., for over $100 million, which, when approved, will resolve systemic sex discrimination, harassment, and equal pay violations as well as provide significant injunctive relief. That settlement was hard fought, requiring years of investigation and vigorous litigation, followed by a multi-day mediation and two months of near daily negotiations. It represents the type of outcome that can be achieved when the government's civil rights attorneys are free to prosecute California's nation-leading civil rights laws through the judicial process without interference. That is what our legislature intended. DFEH's work in that case, as well as in many others, has strengthened the public's confidence in state civil rights enforcement and the fair administration of justice for all.
In the past, DFEH suffered from having its independent enforcement power undermined. Thanks to our legislature taking action to protect DFEH and its independent authority under California law,
DFEH has been able to prosecute civil rights cases independently for nearly ten years. However, that has now changed. [cont]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:y35edw7kszgx4cm6mltah2bp/bafkreicbgebpvo3h2ys2ijgubsqkz2763iw7cnevrzaixx54muiz6pekqa@jpeg)
![text from first image:
The Office of the Governor repeatedly demanded advance notice of litigation strategy and of next steps in the litigation. As we continued to win in state court, this interference increased, mimicking the interests of Activision’s counsel. Janette ...was then abruptly terminated for opposing the Office of the Governor’s efforts. Accordingly, in protest of this interference, Janette withdrew as lead counsel on both DFEH v. Activision Blizzard, Inc. et al. and DFEH v. Tesla, Inc. The Office of the Governor’s impermissible [2nd image] interference into DFEH’s litigation...has harmed DFEH’s independence and its ability to protect Californians. This is inconsistent with DFEH’s statutory mandate and the fair administration of law.
I have been a public servant my entire career, including three and a half years of government service
prior to law school.
I take my responsibility to work in the public’s best interest seriously. I am proud of the work I have done at DFEH, including settling a housing discrimination case in Santa Cruz
County, a sexual harassment case involving a farm laborer in Monterey County, and, of course, the landmark consent decree in DFEH v. Riot Games, Inc. et al.. Unfortunately, it is apparent that DFEH’s work is not supported by others in California’s government. Because it is no longer possible to litigate cases in a manner consistent with the oath attorneys take both as members of the California State Bar and as state employees, last week, I also withdrew from DFEH v. Activision Blizzard, Inc. et al.. I hereby resign, effective April 13, 2022, in protest of the interference and Janette’s termination. I do not make this decision lightly. Justice should be administered equally, not favoring those with
political influence. Janette and I encourage each of you to continue your excellent work enforcing California’s strong civil rights laws to the best of your abilities. There remains much important work to be done.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:y35edw7kszgx4cm6mltah2bp/bafkreihlchpqerzidgjyzctk2374cl7rsda75cz2g42wityplgg6ougwuu@jpeg)
July 20, 2025 at 12:44 AM
My resignation email was leaked within hours of sending it to the Legal staff and Executive teams. The next 2.5 years were...interesting. But resignation protected the litigation: DFEH continued to litigate the case, instead of folding, finally settling for $50m. 6/6
And by April 4, 2022, before the news was public, Activision's lobbyist made a PRA request for her employment status. 5/6
![Public Records Act request from Nielsen Merksamer to DFEH, dated April 4, 2022, seeking the current employment status of Janette Wipper, any record of disciplinary actions taken against her [NOTE, none, ever], and if Wipper no longer works for DFEH, any records regarding her termination from the agency.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:y35edw7kszgx4cm6mltah2bp/bafkreigmcnzxpfpkwve43fhjdu34zbjjfoblmgt3lontjgkv75jputoyim@jpeg)
July 20, 2025 at 12:44 AM
And by April 4, 2022, before the news was public, Activision's lobbyist made a PRA request for her employment status. 5/6
Although they promised to give the Chief Counsel ten days to think about whether to resign "to spend more time with family," the news was leaked to select media within hours, including a reporter at legal newspaper The Daily Journal, which at the time had Charlie Munger at the helm. 4/6
![email from Maeve Allsup with Bloomberg Law to Kevin Kish, Director of DFEH
Hi Kevin, Thanks for chatting with me last week - we ran a story following the settlement approval yesterday: [link]
On a completely separate note, an off-the-record source told me Janette Wipper was fired yesterday and that it had some connection to the Activision cases. A few other sources have said they heard the same thing. Any chance you can confirm, or let me know if I'm chasing down a false lead?
Thanks in advance,
Maeve](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:y35edw7kszgx4cm6mltah2bp/bafkreibklo33prynsp27sjfrh5dukcww4su5kiicnx5fyow4f4bphq5hki@jpeg)
July 20, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Although they promised to give the Chief Counsel ten days to think about whether to resign "to spend more time with family," the news was leaked to select media within hours, including a reporter at legal newspaper The Daily Journal, which at the time had Charlie Munger at the helm. 4/6
The Governor's Office met with Activision on March 4, 2022. The Chief Counsel of the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (now California Civil Rights Department) was fired March 29, 2022. [A reporter later told me they heard from a source that Kotick knew March 16 - before we did] 3/6
July 20, 2025 at 12:44 AM
The Governor's Office met with Activision on March 4, 2022. The Chief Counsel of the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (now California Civil Rights Department) was fired March 29, 2022. [A reporter later told me they heard from a source that Kotick knew March 16 - before we did] 3/6
A later Public Records Act request turned up several Governor's Office meetings with Activision's representatives, the first on February 23, 2022, 19 days after Munger, Tolles, & Olson entered the case. 😒2/6
![Office of the Governor
October 2, 2024
Via Email
Melanie L. Proctor [redacted]
Re: Public Records Act Request
Dear Ms. Proctor,
This letter is in response to your correspondence, received September 30, 2024, inquiring about our office's September 26, 2024 response to your September 9, 2024 Public Records Act request.
Thank you for your letter. We have identified an additional responsive record.
Regarding your statement that our "September 19, 2024, response suggests that other records were withheld," please be aware that no responsive records have been withheld from disclosure in response to your September 9 request. However, as we explained in our June 14, 2024 correspondence attaching the March 4, 2022 calendar entry for Ms. Patterson, which you referenced in your latest correspondence:
Please be aware that, like many people's calendars, Ms. Patterson and Ms. Williamson's calendars are not a complete record of what they have done, or with whom they have met. Only meetings and other matters scheduled in advance are reflected on their calendars. The calendars may or may not be updated after the fact if a scheduled meeting does not take place. This concludes our response to this request. Thank you for contacting the Governor's Office.
Sincerely,
/s/
Cynthia Stein
Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary
Governor Gavin Newsom * Sacramento, California 95814 * (916) 445-2841](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:y35edw7kszgx4cm6mltah2bp/bafkreiazf6hcb47ojzqhebmzqwkejy4o67nn2zdeyaekcljydboqquqk2i@jpeg)
July 20, 2025 at 12:44 AM
A later Public Records Act request turned up several Governor's Office meetings with Activision's representatives, the first on February 23, 2022, 19 days after Munger, Tolles, & Olson entered the case. 😒2/6
& Juliet was one of the most brilliant, entertaining, and moving musicals I’ve seen. If you can go, go.
July 13, 2025 at 2:31 PM
& Juliet was one of the most brilliant, entertaining, and moving musicals I’ve seen. If you can go, go.
I really love how my #squirrel friends grab a nut from the bird proof feeder, hop up to the balcony rail and bring their snacks around the corner so I can see them eating.
June 11, 2025 at 4:12 PM
I really love how my #squirrel friends grab a nut from the bird proof feeder, hop up to the balcony rail and bring their snacks around the corner so I can see them eating.
Here’s his office, meeting with Activision Blizzard’s attorney and others, about active litigation by the state civil rights agency. Five weeks later, he fired the chief counsel of DFEH.
June 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Here’s his office, meeting with Activision Blizzard’s attorney and others, about active litigation by the state civil rights agency. Five weeks later, he fired the chief counsel of DFEH.
