Los Angeles County’s former chief attorney has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the county and the Board of Supervisors.
Ex-County Counsel Mark Saladino‘s Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit also alleges both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, as well as breach of an employment contract. Saladino is seeking unspecified damages.
A county spokesman did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Saladino was hired as County Counsel in September 2014, by a 4-1 vote of the board, at a salary of $288,915, according to his court papers.
As his tenure progressed, Saladino became increasingly concerned about what he believed were actions taken by the board in violation of the state’s open meeting law, the suit states.
“Mr. Saladino also learned of the board’s frustration with the (open meeting law’s) requirement that the public be allowed to comment at board meetings,” the Friday suit says. “The board members frequently tried to silence speakers whom they found to be offensive …”
Saladino claims the board often ignored his advice regarding the law.
The suit states that Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas became angry with Saladino in November 2014 when the plaintiff insisted on following board policies designed to balance the investigative powers of the sheriff with the oversight powers of the board.
Saladino frequently clashed with Ridley-Thomas and believes the supervisor wanted him fired “for political reasons,” according to his complaint.
“Just eight months after his services as County Counsel began, the board acted to remove Mr. Saladino from his job, which he believes was done with the urging of Supervisors Ridley-Thomas and (Michael) Antonovich,” the suit says.
Supervisors Antonovich and Hilda Solis demanded that Saladino issue a news release stating that he resigned voluntarily and had requested a reassignment, the suit alleges.
In June 2015, Saladino says he requested a transfer under duress and the former Treasurer-Tax Collector returned to his old office, but in a less important position.
The suit states that Saladino broke the news shortly thereafter to family members and friends, some of whom thought he had a “horrible illness” and was stepping down for that reason.
“Many people responded back in shock and expressed their love and support for him,” the suit says. “He felt like he was witnessing his own funeral.”
Saladino later filed a claim alleging the supervisors fired him and that they demanded he announce in a news release that he voluntarily resigned and was requesting a new assignment.
In May, Saladino filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging the board violated the open meeting law by “discussing and taking action” regarding his employment during closed sessions that were not posted on the June 9 and June 16, 2015, agendas. He says he was deprived of the chance to demand a public session.
Saladno is asking for the release of any written minutes and/or audio/visual recordings from those sessions. He also wants a judge to enjoin the board from discussing or firing any county employee “outside of a noticed and public meeting.”
–City News Service