BELL GARDENS : Fired City Manager Sues for Breach of Contract
Former Bell Gardens City Manager Claude L. Booker, who was fired in March after the recall of four Anglo City Council members, is suing the city for breach of his $124,000-a-year contract.
Booker, who had worked for the city off and on since 1967, was one of four high-ranking officials--including the city clerk, the city attorney and the police chief--who were fired or left office when a Latino majority council was elected.
The former city manger is also seeking unspecified punitive damages from council members Josefina Macias, George T. Deitch, Rodolpho Garcia and Frank B. Duran. The suit alleges that the four acted maliciously during negotiations over Booker’s severance pay.
Booker had been a longtime foe of the new council members, who during their campaigns had vowed to fire him once they took office. They offered him one month’s pay after firing him at their first meeting. City Atty. Alan Gross declined to comment on the suit.
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