BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
Sheriff Christina Corpus has sued the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and County Executive Mike Callagy for allegedly withholding records related to retired Judge LaDoris Cordell’s investigation into the sheriff’s office.
Corpus said the county is violating the California Public Records Act by asserting that Cordell’s contract and associated payments are confidential due to attorney-client privilege.
Corpus is asking for the county’s contract with Cordell, Cordell’s timesheets or invoices and records of payments to Cordell.
“Under long-standing California precedent, contracts and expenditures involving public funds must be disclosed,” attorney Matthew Frauenfeld said in the lawsuit, filed on Friday.
Supervisors hired Cordell to do an investigation under their legislative powers, and not for any litigation or legal advice, Frauenfeld said.
“The board, acting in its clear bias, is attempting to improperly delay and deny Sheriff Corpus access to documents relevant to her defenses and refutation of the allegations against her,” Frauenfeld said.
Michelle Durand, a spokeswoman for Callagy and the Board of Supervisors, said she wasn’t able to comment on the lawsuit tonight (April 16).
An initial hearing on the case was scheduled for June 23 with Judge Jeffrey Finigan in San Mateo County Superior Court.
The county has previously said the Cordell report cost $200,000 and that Cordell was paid $750 an hour.
“This is in line with both the cost of a complex and sensitive investigation of this nature as well as the level of experience, expertise and unique qualifications that Cordell brought to the matter,” a statement from the county said.
Supervisors hired Cordell in July 2024 to look into a growing number of HR complaints against Corpus and her former Chief of Staff Victor Aenlle, with whom Corpus allegedly had a personal relationship.
Cordell report
After interviewing 40 past and current sheriff’s employees, Cordell released her bombshell report on Nov. 12. Corpus and Aenlle showed a paranoid obsession with loyalty and made unilateral decisions that violated county policies and potentially broke the law, Cordell said in her report, calling for Corpus to resign.
The same day, Corpus arrested Deputy Carlos Tapia — head of the deputies’ union and one of her most outspoken critics — for alleged time card fraud. District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe threw out the charges a month later.
Cordell’s 400-page report became the basis for a special election on March 4 to give supervisors the power to remove the sheriff from office. Voters approved Measure A with 84% of the vote.
Supervisors were expected to approve the rules for removing Corpus on Tuesday, but the item wasn’t on their agenda released tonight (April 16).
PRA turned down
In her lawsuit, Corpus said she filed a California Public Records Act request on March 7 for seven types of documents.
Besides the documents she is suing over, Corpus asked for correspondence between Cordell, Callagy and each supervisor, as well as any documents provided to Cordell and correspondence between Callagy and Assistant Sheriff Ryan Monaghan since September 1.
Chief Deputy County Attorney Brian Kulich denied the request on April 1, according to emails included in the lawsuit.
County’s reasoning
“This request seeks records protected by attorney-client privilege, the work-product doctrine, and the official information privilege,” Kulich said.
The only record that could be disclosed is correspondence between Callagy and Monaghan, and no such records exist, Kulich said.
County Attorney John Nibbelin reiterated the county’s position to Frauenfeld on April 7 and said the county is protecting confidential whistleblowers who were interviewed by Cordell.
“Preserving the confidentiality of such information is essential and clearly outweighs disclosure in this particular case, as disclosure could result in retaliation against the whistleblowers and chill their willingness to participate in investigations,” Nibbelin said.
Other lawsuits, claims
This is the second time Corpus has sued the county. She sued earlier this year in an attempt to stop the March 4 special election, arguing the election needed to occur in November 2026.
Corpus also filed a legal claim, usually a precursor to a lawsuit, against the county for $10 million, arguing that Supervisors Ray Mueller and Noelia Corzo had hatched an “evil scheme” to remove her.
Corpus’ legal filings are hardly the only ones the county has seen in the wake of the Cordell report.
Callagy and Monaghan have both filed claims against the county and Corpus alleging retaliation.
Callagy blocked Monaghan’s firing after Monaghan spoke with Cordell, saying his firing might be seen as interference in an independent investigation of the sheriff’s office.
Former Capt. Brian Phillip, who was ordered to arrest Tapia, has filed a lawsuit against the county and Corpus for retaliation, among a host of other claims.
“The Corpus regime consistently retaliates against its perceived enemies,” Philip’s lawsuit said.
Tapia and Sgts. Hector Acosta and Javier Acosta have all filed claims against the county and Corpus for retaliation due to their roles in the sergeants’ and deputies’ unions.
Aenlle has also filed a claim against the county, saying he did not get fair legal representation as a county employee.
As sheriff, Corpus is paid $466,058 a year, and her total pay including benefits is $701,310.
Wow…another lawsuit filed by Corpus. I’m shocked! Seriously, this troll is delusional. Blames everyone for her problems and feels she’s still serving “at the will of the voters.” Can’t wait to see her tossed to the curb, with her career, personal life and reputation in shambles. She deserves nothing less.
CorPISS denied my PRA request….. Should I sue her?!
Questioning Corpus judgement that she thinks all she has done wrong is what was made public in the November report. Mind you that Cordell was hired after numerous IGNORED HR complaints.
The Board of Supervisors has not even drafted the reasons to remove Corpus from office. When the attorneys see what the actual reasons are maybe a time to scramble for defense. Quite certain the attorney is going to wonder why Corpus didn’t resign months ago.
Cordell only started the ball rolling to signal a massive problem within the establishment. Whistleblower retaliation is just a tiny piece of the bigger issues to be revealed. Why do corrupt leaders think they will get away with breaking laws? Why does it take so long to investigate and prosecute elected officials?
Why does her attorney need to know names in the report? To retaliate and humiliate people? Do they realize every public comment and newspaper interview mentioning names in the HR report is whistleblower retaliation and those people are protected under California law.
What the Corpus attorney doesn’t realize is the secrets, lies and intimidation still need to be revealed.
What will the “deal breakers” be. Time will tell.
There is a bright side to almost anything, and the moving papers that Corpus’ attorneys have filed are certainly entertaining. Their Petition for a Writ of Mandate to Enforce Disclosure, on page three, describes the parties to the litigation. “Petitioner, Christina Corpus, is an individual who had her public records request denied.” Good to know that her attorneys will not be billing San Mateo County for any billable time relative to that public records request, since it was done in her individual capacity.
The 4/11/25 Petition continues, “She petitions this court in her individual capacity as someone who had their public records request improperly denied.” Again, terrific to know that her attorneys will not be billing San Mateo County for any billable time relative to this frivolous Writ of Mandate Petition, since it too was done in her individual capacity. It’s great to see Corpus isn’t trying to covet public funds to pay for her attorneys. Or, has she requested the County to pay her attorneys for any of that?
As far as the rest of the words in the petition, they seem to ignore the state of the law and supporting court decisions. As far as the argument that the material sought is not related to litigation, they seem to forget about it’s potential relativity to the Wozniak, Barker, and Phillips lawsuits already filed, not to mention the Tapia, Acosta brothers, Callagy, Monaghan and other lawsuits anticipated. Corpus should know that lawyers are the only ones paid to be in court and therefore, generally, the only ones who make money there. Or, is this just another instance or poor decision-making by Corpus, Aenlle or both of them?
[Post removed — Terms of Use violation. Commenter is using more than one name on this thread to create a sock puppet effect.]
[Post removed — Terms of Use violation. Commenter is using more than one name on this thread to create a sock puppet effect.]
I am Sheriff Christy and I’m bringing the little doctor back to help with CCW permits. Remember I am the sheriff you can trust.
This woman should go, she’s compromising the integrity of the Sheriff department
What is going on with our county officials s? Is there no one to protect us from this corrupt Sheriff? As if the Story couldn’t get any more sick ,Corpus has now reinstated Aenlle’s position as reserved deputy and has apparently given him full access to assist in CCW applications. This is extremely concerning. Aenlle is the main person that has been involved with all the HR complaints , corruption, and chaos. When will our officials step up? What was the point on voting on measure A? Someone needs to cut through the red tape and get this corrupt incompetent individual out of our Sheriff’s Office.