City of Desert Hot Springs Whisteblower suit Roy Hill, Ward, Skulley

Roy Hill whistleblower suit against city of Desert Hot Springs, DHS, Jerry Hanson

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Updated: April 20, 2006
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Whistle Blower Lawsuit Page

03/14/06
City Faces Whistle Blower Lawsuit
Roy Hill, Kathy Ward and Laurie Scully File Suit

More reporting on Whistle Blower Suit Against Desert Hot Springs.
See Press Enterprise story here.

"In my view, this is a classic whistle-blower case," attorney James Mangione, who represents all three plaintiffs, said in a telephone interview from San Diego. Hill and the other plaintiffs had previously filed claims against the city but they were never acknowledged, Mangione said. Kathy Ward, former manager of Desert Hot Springs Development Services, and Laurie Scully, former head of Human Resources, also claim in the lawsuit that a hostile work environment forced them to leave their positions last year after they spoke to the grand jury, district attorney and FBI.
03/11/06 The Desert Sun Saturday Print Edition *DHS employees "engaged in a campaign of harassment thereby creating a hostile work environment"* says law suit against the city? Desert Sun reports more on the Wrongful Termination suit in Desert Hot Springs. Desert Sun states;** "The trio contends Desert Hot Springs violated California labor law by retaliating against them for "disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency when the employee believes a violation has been committed." "Interim City Manager John Soulliere declined to comment on the lawsuit Friday". "All three provided information about Hanson's employment contracts with the city, his land deals, his compensation package and conflicts of interest involving Hanson and "certain council members and fraudulent employment filings by city employees," the lawsuit states." Scully and Ward contend that soon after their contact with those outside agencies, "Hanson and certain employees under his control engaged in a campaign of harassment thereby creating a hostile work environment." 03/11/06 revised Desert Sun picks up on our story released yesterday - "Another Wrongful Termination suit in Desert Hot Springs", this time by former employees claiming they were fired for reporting corruption to the FBI and other enforcement agencies. From The Complaint that we reported first. "VII.37. The City, through Jerry Hanson, retaliated against Roy Hill [Kathy Ward, Laurie Scully] as a result of his communications with the Riverside Grand Jury, the Riverside District Attorney and the Federal Bureau of Investigation." Desert Sun Further Reports *"And besides the city of Desert Hot Springs, the Feb.. 27 lawsuit also alleges that 25 others ...participated in the retaliation" against Hill, Ward and Scully.* Desert Sun Points Out...others now working at city hall may also be named in the suit. Was Jerry Hanson the only remaining vestige of the conditions that precipitated the lawsuit? Did Jerry Hanson act alone? Hill, Ward and Scully allege City Council Members are involved and that there were "fraudulent employment filings by City Employees." If Hill, Ward and Scully are correct, others who were hired by Jerry Hansen and/or remain in key positions at DHS will be named in the suit or will be material witnesses even if they are not named. Long time readers of this site can surmise this Author sympathizes with those bringing this action, having himself been fired as President of Citizens On Patrol for his whistle blowing activities. There seems to be plenty of examples to go around of retaliation. 03/10/06 FILED UNDER "NO GOOD DEED GOES (severely) UNPUNISHED" IN DHS Past fired DHS chief of police, Roy Hill, and fired (and/or demoted) DHS employees, Laurie Scully and Kathy Ward file a lawsuit against the city of DHS. They allege that they where retaliated against by being fired and demoted for reporting to the FBI, Riverside Grand Jury, and other agencies, violations of the law committed by former city manager, Jerry Hansen. In addition, they allege that they were also fired for exercising their first amendment free speech rights. Allegations of corrupt land deals, un ethical contracts massive wholesale violations of the labor law are reported. Also no reasons were given for the terminations. Below is pleadings filed 02/27/06. Click on image for larger image. page 1 and 2 page 3 and 4 page 5 and 6 page 7 and 8 page 9 and 10 03/11/06 revised Desert Sun picks up on our story released yesterday - "Another Wrongful Termination suit in Desert Hot Springs", this time by former employees claiming they were fired for reporting corruption to the FBI and other enforcement agencies. From The Complaint that we reported first. "VII.37. The City, through Jerry Hanson, retaliated against Roy Hill [Kathy Ward, Laurie Scully] as a result of his communications with the Riverside Grand Jury, the Riverside District Attorney and the Federal Bureau of Investigation." Desert Sun Further Reports *"And besides the city of Desert Hot Springs, the Feb.. 27 lawsuit also alleges that 25 others ...participated in the retaliation" against Hill, Ward and Scully.* Desert Sun Points Out...others now working at city hall may also be named in the suit. Was Jerry Hanson the only remaining vestige of the conditions that precipitated the lawsuit? Did Jerry Hanson act alone? Hill, Ward and Scully allege City Council Members are involved and that there were "fraudulent employment filings by City Employees." If Hill, Ward and Scully are correct, others who were hired by Jerry Hansen and/or remain in key positions at DHS will be named in the suit or will be material witnesses even if they are not named. Long time readers of this site can surmise this Author sympathizes with those bringing this action, having himself been fired as President of Citizens On Patrol for his whistle blowing activities. There seems to be plenty of examples to go around of retaliation. 03/11/06 The Desert Sun Saturday Print Edition *DHS employees "engaged in a campaign of harassment thereby creating a hostile work environment"* says law suit against the city? Desert Sun reports more on the Wrongful Termination suit in Desert Hot Springs. Desert Sun states;** "The trio contends Desert Hot Springs violated California labor law by retaliating against them for "disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency when the employee believes a violation has been committed." "Interim City Manager John Soulliere declined to comment on the lawsuit Friday". "All three provided information about Hanson's employment contracts with the city, his land deals, his compensation package and conflicts of interest involving Hanson and "certain council members and fraudulent employment filings by city employees," the lawsuit states." Scully and Ward contend that soon after their contact with those outside agencies, "Hanson and certain employees under his control engaged in a campaign of harassment thereby creating a hostile work environment." Return to Friends Of Desert Hot Springs Home Page

04/17/06
File This Under FYI
Ann Marie Gallant Was The Whistleblower
That Got City Of Carson Council Members
Charged With Bribery/Extortion

See
See FBI November 2002 Public Affairs Report by DEBRA W. YANG
United States Attorney Central District of California
And
Ann Marie GALLANT, Plaintiff and Appellant v. CITY OF CARSON et al., Defendants and Respondents
California Court of Appeal, Second District, Div. 1 B176052 Filed April 20, 2005 (Appeal from Los Angeles County Superior Court, BC309168, Person, J.)Gallant v. City of Carson et al. Cite as: 128 Cal.App.4th 705, 27 Cal.Rptr.3d 318

From the April 20, 2005 Cite:
An employee of a city sued the city and two of its employees for defamation and wrongful termination, claiming she was fired and defamed for exposing corruption in the city's bidding for trash collection. The defamation cause of action was stricken under the statute prohibiting strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) (Code Civ. Proc., § 425.16), and the employee appeals. We reverse because the employee "has established that there is a probability that [she] will prevail on the claim." (Id., § 425 .16, subd. (b)(1).) (All further statutory references are to the Code of Civil Procedure unless otherwise indicated.)

From the FBI Public Affairs report:
CASES SHOW EXTORTION ATTEMPTS AGAINST FOUR HAULERS
The mayor of Carson, other elected city officials, “consultants” and insiders at one trash company have been charged in a wide-ranging corruption case involving the solicitation and eventual payment of bribes to secure a lucrative trash-hauling contract that was awarded by the Carson City Council. A federal grand jury indictment and several criminal informations outline a scheme in which a majority of the Carson City Council conspired to solicit bribes in exchange for their votes to award the trash-hauling contract. The case charges the politicians, those responsible for paying bribes, and the middlemen who acted as conduits for the cash.

Now we know the real reason why DHS Councilwoman Mary Stephens voted against Ann Marie Gallant for DHS City Manager and has avoided Gallant.

Legal stuff here!

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