Melanie McDade-Dickens, the former assistant and ex-girlfriend of Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr., has been ordered to pay $217,404 in sanctions for failing to produce key records related to her wrongful termination lawsuit against the city. The ruling by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lia Martin also prohibits McDade-Dickens and her attorneys from introducing new evidence in support of her claims that the mayor fired her for ending their romantic relationship.
Mira Hashmall, the attorney representing the City of Inglewood, described the ruling as a significant setback for McDade-Dickens in her four-year legal battle against the city and Butts.
Hashmall maintains that McDade-Dickens was terminated in 2019 following evidence of serious misconduct, including allegations that she forged city documents, falsified payroll records, added a ghost employee to the city payroll, and submitted fraudulent documents to secure funding for a home purchase—actions that could constitute federal crimes.
The city also alleges that McDade-Dickens persuaded a subordinate to co-sign a home loan in exchange for preferential treatment for her son in the city’s first-time homebuyer program. Additionally, she is accused of altering financial records and fabricating a hardship to withdraw funds early from a retirement account to cover a mortgage down payment.
“In the March 2025 sanctions order, the Court found that Melanie McDade committed perjury in sworn declarations and destroyed evidence that would prove the misconduct that led to her employment being terminated by the City,” Hashnall said.
The court’s ruling determined that McDade-Dickens—who had sought $65 million to settle the lawsuit— failed to contest the “extensive evidence” presented by the city, including allegations of destroyed evidence and perjury. The $217,404 sanction covers attorneys’ fees incurred due to McDade-Dickens’ discovery violations and noncompliance with a prior court order.
David Miller, McDade-Dickens’ attorney, expressed disagreement with the ruling and confirmed plans to appeal.
“We respectfully disagree with the Court’s rulings and plan to appeal,” Miller stated. “Ms. McDade will not be broken by personal attacks and will continue to vigorously pursue her claims against Mayor Butts. She remains confident that once her case is presented to a jury of her peers, she will prevail.”