With a PAGA lawsuit, a related class action lawsuit, there could be more litigation against CCCU who let go of a 14.5 employee this week

 

If you search Coast Central Credit Union in Humboldt Superior Court, there are 200 search results. Most of the cases are CCCU suing people.

There are two related lawsuits filed by Jackson Crockett against the CCCU. One was on 2/18/26 and the other on March 9, 2026 by the same La Jolla law firm, Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP. The lawsuits allege PAGA and labor code violations.

I was initially contacted by a concerned community member who gave me a tip about a CCCU development this week. By today, that person did not want to go on record or be quoted due to fear of retaliation. This happens often. People read my reporting; they contact me about news of public interest and regardless of who they are in Humboldt and connections; there is a pervasive fear of going public. 

That is unfortunate. 

Yet, I am expected to take the risk and I do. Often for people who may want to support me including financially but cannot. Independent reporting does not pay and with CA bill introduced by Rob Bonta's wife; silencing journalists like me is a pen stroke away.

The CA Democrats will do nothing. The CA Republicans talk a lot and make it about their chosen "independent" reporter Nick Shirley but they cannot stop the legislation and are ineffective because they don't give a damn about those in CA risking reporting actual news not for you tube clicks.

The tip I received Tuesday night was that a CCCU employee who worked for CCCU for 14.5 years was let go that day. I briefly spoke to the employee today and I am not identifying him at this time. CCCU knows. I am not going to share some basic details because he is dealing with a lot and if he choses any legal action; I don't want to anything to further cause him stress or jeopardize that effort until something is filed. 

The former employee is weighing whether he wants to talk to media and I support that decision. This employee is more courageous than some people who send me tips and don't want to be quoted. 

There are instances for anonymity but it is used as cowardice by people in Humboldt who enable injustice, retaliation by silence, fear and the "you take risk John but I won't."

CCCU is certainly not the only Humboldt business that has made the news on my blog. The problem is, if someone even takes on businesses and gets a settlement or judgement; they just re-organize or rename like Rentor aka former RPM and it is business, as usual.

Those who still do business with CCCU or Rentor or the many businesses exposed on this blog need to look in the mirror. In CCCU's case, whether it is because people are anti corporate or have some loyalty to the people who started the business need to decide where they spend their money. If you are for workers' rights, then put your money instead of empty words. And if that means a corporate bank who treats employees well; then that is a moral and right choice.

In a small community where private, decent jobs are insufficient to begin with; entrenched, petty arrogance shifts the burden to the taxpayers through unemployment and other programs.

Yes, litigation is pending in the two CCCU lawsuits. This is a small community. Before something gets to court; people know how "bidiness" is done in Humboldt. 

At this time, there is no reason for me to contact CCCU until this employee decides what he will do. 

CV2600037 has a case management conference on 7/6/26. CV2600541 has a Case Management Conference on 9/4/26. I have included some court documents.

Humboldt's problem is the same people have been in charge for decades. The ego and the "power" goes to their heads. They think they are untouchable. They are enabled by silence.

There are very few local lawyers who take cases of injustice on and they are my advertisers for a reason. 

Evil will always exist in Humboldt. It is not my job to continuing exposing it; especially when the funding does not exist. Also, what I expose;  when the other local media  runs a spin for the good ole boys and gals; it is a frustrating effort. 

There is a lot of good to report about Humboldt and I would like to focus on that more. The Humboldt elected officials, the agencies who need to hold people accountable and start doing their jobs which they are paid for. The community members need to stop expecting me to risk, fix decades of injustice and be shameless to want me to do it for free. These are your peers and you all need to call them out to their face.