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Politics & Government

Glendale Wins Lawsuit Against Former Employees

The plaintiffs allege they were fired in retaliation for reporting a superior.

A federal court judge ruled last week in favor of the City of Glendale and a former parks director and interim director in a case involving two parks former employees.

In 2011, the former employees, Eric Grossman and Russell Hauck, filed separate lawsuits alleging they were fired by George Chapjian, former parks director, and David Ahern, interim director, in retaliation for revealing the alleged misuse of funding by Ahern. The judge ruled May 3 that the city laid off the two plaintiffs because of budget cuts.

City officials said an $18 million deficit in 2011 forced the termination of the plaintiffs, along with the Park Naturalist Program. $1.3 million was cut from the Park Department.

Grossman and Hauck were reportedly alerted by a neighbor of Ahern that a city-owned vehicle and employees were working on Ahern's yard. Grossman and Hauck reported the information to their superiors and they allege they were subsequently fired less than six weeks afterwards, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Grossman also alleged that Ahern asked him and another employee to transport rocks from Deukmejian Wilderness Park and transport them to his home. Ahern admitted in court to asking the two to move the rocks, saying it was a mistake to ask them that, according to the La Canada Valley Sun.

In a press release, Glendale officials said evidence showed that 14 people were laid off in July 2011 along with many other programs.

The city also alleges that Chapjian left in 2010, before the layoffs happened and hod no involvement in them.

“The result is extremely gratifying,” said City Attorney Michael Garcia. “The plaintiffs’ claims were meritless and completely divorced from the budget realities the City has faced. We’re glad the jury agreed.”

Officials will next seek to have the city reimbursed for costs incurred during the trial.

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