Frank Liu arrived in Reno during the pandemic after he was called a racial slur by one of his colleagues at his job. While in the area, Liu said he was harassed by Reno police and Lyon County deputies.
The reason: He was living out of his car, a position he said he was forced into after filing a lawsuit against The Nielsen Company, which monitors TV and other media ratings, after being fired from the company.
Liu filed a discrimination complaint against Nielsen after his manager used a racial slur. In court filings, the company said Liu’s lawsuit should be dismissed because it was not filed in a timely manner. The case is ongoing, and Liu said he rejected a $51,000 offer from Nielsen to settle the case.
After negative law enforcement encounters in Nevada, Liu sued the Reno Police Department and Lyon County, claiming he was illegally detained. Both have since settled the lawsuits with Liu and paid him nearly $10,000 combined. He battled both jurisdictions in federal court without an attorney.
Liu has moved from the area and is no longer living without shelter.
“I’m satisfied that parties were able to find a resolution for my Reno and Lyon County lawsuits,” he told This Is Reno. “When [Reno Police Officer Scott] Gauthier approached me that night, I tried my best to persuade him not to violate my Constitutional rights, but he decided to violate my rights anyway by unlawfully detaining me and requiring my ID in order to run my information.
“I did not want to file a lawsuit against him or the City of Reno but felt obligated to, out of principle. I hope Officer [Scott] Gauthier learns from the interaction and strives to become a better police officer.”
City of Reno spokesperson Landon Miller said the city would not comment. Liu said the experience was his form of protest.
“Representing myself pro se is time-consuming, and it’s not an easy process,” he said. “While I think there are some elements of victory, it is a bitter-sweet victory because the settlements weren’t huge, and I am doubtful there will be lasting change in how policing is done in Reno or Lyon County.”
He praised Lyon County attorney Katherine Parks but said City of Reno Attorney Mark Hughes took advantage of him. He acknowledged that “eventually, the City of Reno did the right thing, and I’m happy with the resolution reached.”
First Amendment auditors and YouTubers have supported Liu’s ordeal. A video posted after Liu settled with both governments, a YouTube account, Showcase Audits, featured his story.
Since Liu’s law enforcement encounters in 2022, Reno, Sparks and Washoe County have outlawed sleeping in vehicles to deter homelessness. A recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court further solidified the ability of local governments to criminalize homelessness.
CORRECTION: Liu is unemployed, and he does not have a new job, as originally reported.
