San Mateo County executive files $10.5M claim

“Those who make false statements and engage in the wrongful conduct with the intention to cause harm must be held personally, individually responsible for the damages,” Jim Hartnett, Callagy’s attorney, said in a statement.

Corpus has ignited a flurry of chaos in her tenure, resulting in the abolishment of Aenlle’s paid position by the county’s Board of Supervisors, and extraneous effort to remove the embattled sheriff from her elected position. By recently passing Measure A with 84% support, voters granted supervisors the authority to vote Corpus out, though the vote won’t be certified until April 3.

An investigation conducted by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell into Corpus and her executive team resulted in a 400-page report made public in November detailing evidence of corruption, nepotism and intimidation by Corpus and Aenlle, including alleging the pair were involved in an inappropriate personal relationship.

Corpus and Aenlle could not be immediately reached for comment. Both have consistently denied their relationship and Corpus remains adamant she will not resign from her role or go down without a fight.

In the months leading up to the public release of Cordell’s investigation, Corpus attempted to divert the bubbling attention on her and the office’s top brass by alleging Callagy was actually the source of strife, the claim alleges.

In September 2024, Corpus held a press conference where she asked the Board of Supervisors to conduct an independent investigation in Callagy, whom Corpus said had overstepped authority, inserted himself into the operations of the Sheriff’s Office, and made unilateral decisions in regards to union negotiations.

The claim filed by Hartnett cites multiple examples of false statements made by Corpus at this press conference that were defamatory, made in anger and with malice.

The September press conference was held after deputies and sergeants held a vote of no confidence in Aenlle, and after Corpus fired her former Assistant Sheriff Ryan Monaghan. Monaghan was fired shortly after he participated in Cordell’s investigation, and he also recently filed a claim against the sheriff and Aenlle for retaliation.

“They acted with oppression, fraud, and malice for their own personal gain, including to distract attention from their alleged wrongful conduct,” the claim reads. “Their statements and conduct were intentionally deceptive, despicable, and driven by ill will.”

Although Corpus asked for the investigation into Callagy — and stated in September that “when you raise a complaint in San Mateo County as a woman, you will be dismissed” — Corpus has not participated in moving it forward.

“While Mr. Callagy has fully cooperated and been interviewed, and called for the results of the investigation to be made public, Corpus has failed to even sit for an interview with the investigator, just as she failed to sit for an interview during the Cordell investigation,” Hartnett said.

The claim also details numerous times Aenlle has made false statements to discredit Callagy and “portray him in a false light.”

Aenlle said Callagy was “the godfather of Ryan Monaghan’s daughter,” the claim alleges, but states that Callagy “would not recognize her if she walked in front of him.” The claim also clarifies that Callagy had no role in the investigation into Aenlle’s personal property in unincorporated San Mateo County that found code violations, and has not contacted law enforcement to identify Corpus’ replacement, despite suggestions otherwise.

“As a result of their conspiracy to damage Mr. Callagy’s reputation by knowingly making false statements and through the despicable conduct of Sheriff Corpus and Mr. Aenlle, Mr. Callagy’s reputation has in fact been damaged, he has suffered severe emotional distress and humiliation, his employment has been interfered with, and his earning capacity has been diminished,” the claim alleges.

The claim seeks at least $10.5 million, $4 million in special damages, $3.5 million in general damages and $4 million in punitive damages. It is just the latest legal action taken in relation to Corpus and Aenlle.

Last month, former sheriff’s Capt. Brian Philip, who resigned from the office in November, filed a lawsuit against San Mateo County alleging whistleblower retaliation, wrongful termination, gender discrimination and workplace violations under Corpus’ administration. Carlos Tapia — the Deputy Sheriff’s Association president and key whistleblower of the Corpus administration — filed a complaint Feb. 21 for similar reasons. Tapia was arrested without warrant for felony charges of time card fraud, though District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe previously said the arrest was wrongful and unnecessary.