City Studies Cunliffe’s Bid for Worker Compensation

Los Angeles city officials are pondering whether to challenge a worker’s compensation claim filed by Sylvia Cunliffe, head of the Department of General Services, who says she has suffered injury to “her emotional well-being.”

Cunliffe, on forced leave of absence amid accusations that she abused her position, has filed a claim with the state Worker’s Compensation Appeals Board seeking compensation for “temporary and permanent disability purposes.”

Assistant City Atty. John Wittorff, supervisor of the city attorney’s workers’ compensation section, said the city has not decided whether to oppose the Cunliffe claim.

“We’ve really just received the application and are in the process of preliminary evaluation,” he said. “We really don’t have enough information yet to make a decision.”

The claim, filed Aug. 11, does not specify what injuries she has suffered, nor does it indicate how much money she is requesting. The 54-year-old Cunliffe said in her application that she had paid for medical treatment and had lost “intermittent (work) days” because of her injury.

Reached at her home in Beverly Hills, Cunliffe refused to answer questions about her claim. Ray Poole, her attorney, whose law firm frequently files worker’s compensation claims against the city, also declined comment.

Mayor Tom Bradley took Cunliffe off the job earlier this summer when he announced the formation of a special committee to look into allegations against her. She has been on paid leave from the $90,243-a-year job since June 25.

Cunliffe has been accused of nepotism, favoritism in awarding city contracts and leases, mismanagement in running the General Services Department and possible criminal misconduct in disclosing the police arrest record of an employee in an attempt to discredit his criticism of her.

Bradley received the findings of the panel last week and said he intends to discipline Cunliffe, who could face penalties ranging from a reprimand or suspension to dismissal. The city attorney’s office is drafting formal charges against Cunliffe.

The city attorney’s office said that about 1,200 worker’s compensation claims, for a variety of job-related complaints, are filed by city employees each year.

“Many city employees file worker compensation claims for stress and disability, so there is nothing unusual about her doing this,” said Councilwoman Joy Picus, who chairs the council’s Personnel and Labor Relations Committee.

90% of Her Salary

“It doesn’t necessarily indicate an intention to resign or retire. We have people all the time who file claims, get awards and continue work. The two do not necessarily go hand in hand,” said Jurutha Brown, head of the city’s Personnel Department workers’ compensation section.

Brown said that if Cunliffe’s claim is upheld, she would be eligible for 90% of her salary during the period that she was not working because of the injury. If the city turns down her request, Cunliffe could seek a hearing before the state Workers Compensation Appeals Board, city officials said.

The decision on whether to challenge the claim will be made jointly by the city attorney’s office and the city’s Personnel Department. Wittorff said that the claim could go to the City Council if there was a proposed settlement.