Lawsuit alleges Glendale councilman caused firing of antismoking hospital worker

An antismoking advocate who claims Ara Najarian got him fired from Glendale Adventist Medical Center after he spoke out against the councilman’s proposal to loosen smoking rules at restaurants is scheduled to have his day in court next spring.

A trial has been scheduled for May 12 in a $5-million suit filed by Steven Gallegos against Najarian, while his grievance with his former employer will go through arbitration.

Gallegos was terminated in 2012 after he wrote a letter published in the Glendale News-Press criticizing Najarian, Councilwoman Laura Friedman and former Councilman Rafi Manoukian for voting in favor of easing up on smoking restrictions at restaurants with large outdoor dining areas.

In 2008, the city established several antismoking rules, including limiting smoking to 25% of outdoor dining areas at restaurants.

A proposal by Najarian to increase the size of smoking sections at restaurants with large outdoor areas passed on a 3-2 vote in October 2012. Gallegos wrote a letter criticizing the decision printed by the News-Press a few days later, and he was fired shortly after.

Court records show that Gallegos’ boss told him Najarian insisted on firing him.

He said he received a positive review a month prior to his termination.

“Why would a medical center fire somebody who’s doing work to reduce death from tobacco use and smoking and support somebody who wants to loosen the restrictions?” Gallegos said.

He said he was speaking as a Glendale citizen when he drafted the letter and not in his capacity as a hospital employee.

A tobacco outreach worker for nearly 20 years, Gallegos said he had a difficult time finding another job since he was fired, but added he has been doing similar work part-time for the city of Pasadena since the beginning of the year.

Motions to dismiss the case have been denied by U.S. District Court Judge Dolly Gee, who also set the jury trial date.

Glendale City Atty. Michael Garcia said he was unable to comment on the pending litigation. Elizabeth Watson, an attorney for the hospital, also declined comment.

Najarian did not returns phone calls seeking comment.

Friedman and Manoukian were initially named as defendants, but were dismissed in later filings.