California
Inmate’s wife sexually violated during strip search awarded $5.6 million in settlement: attorneys
A California woman who was sexually violated during a cavity search while trying to visit her incarcerated husband was awarded $5.6 million in a settlement with the department of corrections and the hospital that oversaw the search, her attorneys said Monday.
Christina Cardenas, 45, told the New York Times she was left “traumatized” during an attempted visit to her inmate husband on Sept. 6, 2019 that ended with her going through two strip searches, a cavity search where a male doctor allegedly violated her, X-ray and CT scans, and a drug and pregnancy test, according to the lawsuit she filed against the two parties.
She was then hit with a $5,000 bill from the hospital that did the tests. But Cardenas will recoup that money and then some.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation will fork over $3.6 million and the rest of the total $5.6 million settlement will be divided up between Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley Hospital, a doctor and two correction officers. All defendants denied any wrongdoing in the settlement, the Times reported.
But it wasn’t just the money. Cardenas said she sued the defendants so that the alleged misconduct and violations she was subjected to doesn’t happen to others seeking to visit their loved ones in prison.
“My motivation in pursuing this lawsuit was to ensure that others do not have to endure the same egregious offenses that I experienced,” Cardenas said.
The correction officers had a warrant to search any visitors of her husband, who has been in prison since 2001 when he was convicted of armed robbery, according to the Times.
But the warrant stipulated that the officers could only conduct a strip search of the visitor if an X-ray detected any foreign objects that could be contraband inside the visitor’s body. Cardenas underwent an X-ray and a CT scan and neither picked up any abnormalities, according to her lawyers.
Her lawyers also said a prison official tried to intimidate her during the intrusive ordeal.
“Why do you visit, Christina? You don’t have to visit. It’s a choice, and this is part of visiting,” the official reportedly taunted, according to chilling details Cardenas revealed in the suit.
Cardenas is being represented by Gloria Allred, the high-profile women’s rights attorney, whose past clients include Mimi Haley in her suit against Harvey Weinstein, Judy Huth in her suit alleging she was sexually abused by Bill Cosby, and the family of Halyna Hutchins.
“We believed the unknown officer’s statement was a form of intimidation used to dismiss Christina’s right to visit her lawful husband during the course of his incarceration,” Allred said.
Cardenas was also made to strip and squat over a mirror, which is a type of search usually reserved for inmates, Allred told the Times.
Allred was not immediately available for comment when contacted by The Post.
Cardenas further revealed that while being transported to and from the hospital, she was put in handcuffs in a “humiliating perp walk.” She also said she was denied water or bathroom use for the majority of the search.
And after the long-winded search and tests yielded no contraband in her body or belongings, Cardenas was not permitted to see her husband, Carlos Cardenas.
The traumatizing ordeal wasn’t the first time she had been subjected to a grueling search by prison officials.
Cardenas underwent a strip search to marry her husband — they began dating after he was behind bars — and said she had experienced difficulties during prior visits to him, but not to the magnitude of the September 2019 incident.
The settlement additionally requires that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation distribute a policy memorandum to workers to ensure visitors’ rights are protected when they are subjected to strip searches.
As part of the requirement, prison officials must give a copy of the search warrant to visitors and ensure they read and understand it. The officials also cannot exceed the scope of what is allowed under the warrant.
Sexual abuse and misconduct have been a systemic problem in California prisons. On Sept. 4, the Justice Department announced it had opened an investigation into allegations that correctional officers sexually abused female inmates at two state-run California prisons.
The federal Bureau of Prisons also shut down a women’s prison in Northern California — the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin — following similar allegations. The prison was dubbed the “rape club” after an Associated Press investigation exposed widespread sexual abuse by correctional officers.
With Post wires.
A California bill would let insurers monitor customers’ driving data in exchange for discounted premiums.
Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, the author of AB 311, said the digital monitoring, known as telematics, rewards good driving and would improve safety. In real time, telematics technology would track data such as speed, location and how a vehicle is being driven.
“We have to slow people down,” McKinnor said. “That is the whole purpose for this bill, is driver safety.”
A voter-approved law from 1988, Prop 103, required insurance rates to be based mainly on driving record, miles driven and experience. It made California the only state in the country to prohibit telematics.
McKinnor believes the law is outdated. She argued that her bill would also help good drivers who pay higher rates because of where they live.
“Where I live definitely brings my insurance up,” McKinnor said. “If we both drive the same way, we’ll get charged the same way, instead of by our ZIP code.”
California’s Department of Insurance and consumer groups oppose the bill, citing privacy concerns.
“We can’t look behind the algorithm and see what weight it’s giving to different criteria, which is a big problem,” said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog. “Auto insurance, otherwise, is transparent. This is why the Department of Insurance is opposed, because of the lack of transparency in the algorithm.”
The proposed savings in exchange for good driving might not be guaranteed. Telematics data from the Maryland Insurance Administration showed that 31% of drivers who opted into the program saw a drop in rates, 24% saw an increase and 45% saw no change to their premiums.
“This collects an awful lot of data about people, more than they know, and it’s like having Big Brother in your back seat,” Court said.
McKinnor insisted that drivers will not be forced to enroll in the program.
“It’s still opt-in in the other 49 states,” she said. “We’re not going to make this mandatory. It’ll be a per-volunteer situation.”
McKinnor’s bill passed through the legislature’s insurance committee. It’s expected to be presented to the full Senate in August.
Huntington Beach police are vowing to prevent a potential “takeover” event being promoted across social media that they believe could get out of control.
Police said they became aware of the event from a flyer online advertising an “end of summer beach bash” in the city.
“Dear ‘Beach Bash’ organizers…” police said in an Instagram post Thursday. “Thanks for the flyer. We’ve seen it too.”
They continued, “We have no intention of allowing that to happen here.”
No further details were provided about when the event was planned to take place or the exact location.
Police and the city of Huntington Beach said they’re working to prevent the event following similar events in Southern California that resulted in violence, vandalism and other criminal activity.
One chaotic event that was held in Newport Beach on the Fourth of July ended with more than 400 people being arrested, according to police. Some partygoers were seen fist fighting, while others allegedly vandalized property and local businesses, including a Pavilions grocery store.
Newport Beach police said social media posts drew a large influx of people to Newport Pier in a short amount of time, and the event got out of control.
Huntington Beach PD warned that anyone who organizes, promotes or participates in criminal activity associated with a takeover event may be arrested or prosecuted. Charges may include incitement to riot, vandalism, theft, assault, reckless driving, unlawful assembly, conspiracy or other applicable offenses.
They also warned that juveniles would not be exempt from punishment, and parents or guardians may also be liable for damages caused by their child’s actions.
The HBPD Special Investigations Bureau has already identified individuals believed to be involved in organizing and promoting the event, according to police.
If you have information regarding this event, you are urged to contact Huntington PD’s Special Investigations Bureau at 714-536-5991.
California
Popular California Fast-Casual Chain Mendocino Farms Opens 100th Location in Santa Barbara – edhat
Santa Barbara has become home to a milestone location for a popular sandwich and salad chain.
Mendocino Farms has officially opened its doors at La Cumbre Plaza, marking the company’s 100th location.
Located at 3851 State Street, the restaurant is Mendocino Farms’ first location in Santa Barbara.
Announcing its new store in a social media post, Mendocino Farms said the restaurant offers chef-curated sandwiches and fresh salads using seasonal ingredients.
“Whether you’re fueling your next adventure or settling in for a sunny lunch with friends, we can’t wait to be part of your community. Here’s to our next chapter, together!” the business wrote on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
The restaurant features a custom mural by local artist DJ Javier, as shared by Mendocino Farms in an Instagram post.
The store opened on June 30 and marked its first day with a host of activities to celebrate its launch.
The opening day featured a live DJ, activities such as ‘Rodeo Riviera’, a hat bar, live sandwich-making sessions with the chefs, and a postcard station.
The location is open daily between 10:30 a.m. and 9 p.m., according to its website.
Diners can enjoy a special summer menu along with the regular options of sandwiches and salads that Mendocino Farms is known for.
View this post on Instagram
In addition to its menu options, the restaurant also offers catering services with deliveries available from 10 a.m. onwards.
The space occupied by Mendocino Farms earlier housed Panera Bread, which closed in 2025, per the Restaurant Guy.
About Mendocino Farms
The Los Angeles-based fast-casual chain is known for its selection of freshly made sandwiches, salads, wraps, and soups.
Founded in 2005, Mendocino Farms offers classic as well as limited signature items.
The company opened its first location below the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and has since expanded into a regional brand, according to the Restaurant Guy.
In addition to California, Mendocino Farms has locations in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Texas, and Washington, the company’s website shows.
The restaurants feature a rotating menu of items, along with a range of kids’ menu items that are served with a beverage and a choice of side.
Additionally, the chain offers a variety of dessert options, packaged chips, and packaged beverages.
The company is known for sourcing all its ingredients from ethical local farms and small producers.
All meat and poultry items served are antibiotic-free and humanely raised, while eggs are sourced from cage-free farms, according to its website. Fruits and vegetables are hand-picked, and bread is locally and freshly sourced.
The menu includes a range of items to accommodate all types of diets, such as flexitarian, vegan, and gluten-free.
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