Sacramento Law Firm Receives $16,624 From Elk Grove as City Faces High-Profile Lawsuit

ELK GROVE, Calif. — A Sacramento-based law firm known for defending law enforcement agencies and public entities received $16,624 in payments from the City of Elk Grove in May, according to city financial records reviewed by Elk Grove News.

The payments were made to Angelo, Kilday & Kilduff LLP, a Sacramento law firm that specializes in representing cities, counties, school districts, public safety employees and law enforcement agencies in litigation. The firm's website says it has represented more than 100 public entities and numerous police officers, sheriffs' deputies, correctional officers and other public employees throughout California.

City records show six separate payments issued on May 21, 2026, for "attorney services" totaling $16,624.93. Individual payments ranged from $661.50 to $7,635.

The records do not specify the legal matter associated with the payments, and it is unclear whether the firm has been retained by the City of Elk Grove in connection with a recently filed lawsuit by former Sacramento County Sheriff's Capt. Vanessa Vaden.

Vaden filed a lawsuit earlier this year naming the City of Elk Grove, the Elk Grove Police Department, Police Chief Robert "Bobby" Davis, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office and Sacramento County as defendants. The lawsuit alleges sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination stemming from events that allegedly occurred during her law enforcement career. The defendants have denied wrongdoing and have not publicly responded in detail to the allegations.

Angelo, Kilday & Kilduff markets itself as a firm with extensive experience defending law enforcement agencies and officers in civil litigation. According to the firm's website, its attorneys have represented elected district attorneys, the California Attorney General's Office, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, police agencies and individual officers in cases involving use of force, civil rights claims, demonstrations, employment disputes and constitutional issues.

The firm also maintains a significant appellate practice and has handled matters before state and federal appellate courts, including the California Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Examples of notable law-enforcement-related matters handled by Angelo, Kilday & Kilduff include:

• Representation of law enforcement defendants in Peruta v. County of San Diego and related Second Amendment litigation involving concealed-carry permitting policies.
• Defense of Yolo County Sheriff Ed Prieto in a harassment complaint that was ultimately dismissed.
• Representation of officers and public agencies in police excessive-force and civil rights litigation, including cases involving officer-involved shootings and use-of-force claims.
• Defense of public entities and law enforcement personnel in cases involving false arrest, police pursuits, constitutional claims and allegations of misconduct.

City officials have not publicly identified the purpose of the May payments, and no agenda item or public report reviewed by Elk Grove News specifically links the expenditures to the Vaden litigation.

As the Vaden lawsuit proceeds through Sacramento County Superior Court, any formal retention of outside counsel by the city could become clearer through future court filings or city disclosures.