SAN FERNANDO VALLEY : Predecessor’s Files Were Empty, Antonovich Testifies
Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich testified in court Wednesday that when he moved into the office of former Supervisor Baxter Ward in 1980, he was surprised to discover that the file cabinets were empty--the subject of a bitter argument between the two men that has been going on for years.
Antonovich’s assertion that Ward removed the files is the basis of a civil lawsuit being heard in San Fernando Superior Court, filed by Ward against Antonovich.
Ward was defeated by Antonovich for the supervisor’s office in the 1980 election and then failed in a comeback attempt in 1988. He contends that Antonovich defamed him during their 1988 campaign by accusing Ward of destroying the files--a criminal offense. Ward was never charged with such a crime.
Ward, who denies that he removed any files or ordered anyone to remove them, claims that Antonovich knew or could have found out that Ward did not do so. Ward claims that the accusation cost him the election in 1988, and he is seeking unspecified monetary damages.
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