Cunliffe Now Willing to Negotiate, Lawyers Say

Sylvia Cunliffe’s lawyers said Tuesday night that the embattled general manager of Los Angeles’ General Services Department is willing to negotiate with the city to avoid a protracted fight to keep her job.

Attorneys Jerome Cohen, Joseph Hartley and John M. Bayne Jr. said no specific terms have been discussed but they indicated that Cunliffe believes a settlement would be in her best interests, as well as the city’s.

Response of Attorneys

The disclosure was the first time Cunliffe’s representatives have indicated a willingness to negotiate since the City Council voted Friday to explore a settlement. Meeting with reporters at their Santa Monica offices, Cunliffe’s lawyers said that they were surprised by the council’s willingness to resolve the controversy without a fight.

When the attorneys heard the news Friday night, Cohen said, “Our jaws dropped open.”

Cunliffe’s attorneys, who until now have been unavailable for comment, contacted reporters after learning that the council earlier Tuesday, after lengthy debate, had voted to oppose a move by Cunliffe to delay a court hearing scheduled for next week. That hearing was to determine whether or not City Atty. James Hahn would continue to represent the city in the Cunliffe matter.

Cunliffe, 54, has maintained that Hahn’s office should be disqualified because his staff had advised her on some issues involving her case.

Hartley said the postponement of the court hearing was sought to facilitate negotiations, rather than as a “stalling” tactic, as charged by Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky earlier Tuesday. Both Yaroslavsky and Councilwoman Gloria Molina oppose a settlement.

“The only reason we continued the hearing was to allow negotiations to go forward,” Hartley said. “We were delighted to see an offer of negotiations and that the city was beginning to show some good faith in dealing with Mrs. Cunliffe.”

Hartley said that the hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court has been delayed until Dec. 18.

No Terms Outlined

Cunliffe attorney Bayne would not disclose any settlement offers, adding that there has been no scheduled meeting for negotiations to begin. He also said that even though Cunliffe is willing to negotiate, “We’re trying to keep all legal remedies available to her.”

He indicated that those options could include a damage suit against the city.

Cunliffe has been on a paid leave of absence from her $90,243-a-year job since June. Late last month, Mayor Tom Bradley urged the council to fire her on charges that she engaged in nepotism and favoritism and that she illegally used sensitive criminal records to discredit a department employee critical of her.

She has denied the allegations, claiming that she is a victim of political persecution.