On November 6, 2025, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the District Court found that the U.S. Capitol Police had engaged in sex discrimination against Officer Mauricia Van Meter, after a 11-day jury trial. Officer Van Meter had been dismissed from a K-9 officer training course in 2017 under what the jury found to be discriminatory circumstances. After deliberating for almost 30 hours, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Officer Van Meter and awarded her $850,000 for emotional distress. While under the relevant discrimination statute (the Congressional Accountability Act) the damages award was subject to reduction to a $300,000 statutory cap, the jury’s verdict later paved the way for a resolution for all remains issues. Officer Van Meter’s trial victory has been discussed in greater detail in the press.
Officer Van Meter was represented at trial by Gilbert Employment Law, P.C. Of Counsel Thomas J. Gagliardo, working with lead counsel Les Alderman of Alderman, Devorsetz & Hora, who initiated the case and represented Officer Van Meter for eight years.