A former aide to Fresno County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld has filed a claim alleging she was subjected to sexual harassment and workplace violence.

Jennifer Ortega, through her attorney, Peter Bradley, filed the claim with the county on Nov. 12, public records show. Ortega also received a “right-to-sue” letter from the state Civil Rights Department.

Ortega is seeking $1 million in damages for lost income, benefits, and emotional distress. Her salary was $82,446 a year.

She served as Bredefeld’s communications aide from February, a month after he took office, until her termination in September. Previously, she worked as a publicist for the Fresno Chaffee Zoo and as a news reporter with KSEE 24/CBS 47.

Ortega’s attorney said she had a run-in with Bredefeld’s chief of staff, Daniel Gai, in June 2025.

“My client had an interaction with her supervisor, Daniel Gai, that she felt was threatening. She reported it to her supervisor’s supervisor (Bredefeld), and was told he would take care of it,” Bradley said.

“No action was taken on her report. Instead, within at least 90 days, she was terminated with no reason given. Her work up to that point had been exemplary. The reason for her termination did not involve any aspect of poor performance or misconduct,” Bradley said.

Bredefeld Responds

The county said it could not comment on the case, but Bredefeld did.

“We don’t normally comment on pending claims or litigation, but in this case I know the county’s actions were completely justified and Ms. Ortega’s claims are baseless,” Bredefeld said.

‘Devastated by How Things Ended,’ Ortega Says

No reason was given, according to an internal job-change information memo signed off by Bredefeld. Gai delivered notice to Ortega of her termination on Sept. 19.

“I’m devastated by how things ended. When I took the job, I was genuinely excited to work for Garry and serve the county. Being terminated came as a complete shock. There was no explanation, and Garry never spoke to me about it. Since then, finding new employment has been extremely difficult,” Ortega said.

The incident, Bradley said, took place in an office at the Hall of Records.

What’s in the Claim

The claim does not specify in detail Gai’s alleged workplace harassment of Ortega.

“County of Fresno terminated claimant within 90 days of her report of her supervisor’s workplace violence/sexual harassment,” the claim states.

The claim said that Ortega reported the incident to Bredefeld and “to an assistant to a different supervisor who reported it to the clerk.”

Bredefeld is named as a county employee involved. Also named in addition to Gai are County Administrative Officer Paul Nerland and Justin Tolman, a county human resources analyst.

Those four are also named as witnesses, along with Marc Benjamin, chief of staff for Supervisor Brian Pacheco; Kelliana Bourbon, another Pacheco staffer; and Lucio Avila, a staffer for Supervisor Luis Chavez.

Bradley said the witnesses are people Ortega reported the incident to or who may have heard the interaction.

The county has 45 days to respond to the claim. If it is rejected, Ortega can sue in court.

Gai, who also served as an assistant to Bredefeld at Fresno City Hall, pleaded no contest to five felonies in 2021 for a 2019 incident involving his then-fiancée and her mother. The court found him guilty of two other felony criminal threat charges. He did not serve additional time.

Bredefeld’s city council colleagues at the time called for Gai’s dismissal, and Gai resigned the position.

Gai subsequently supported Bredefeld’s run for supervisor and was hired as chief of staff after Bredefeld won the election against incumbent Steve Brandau.