LOS ANGELES : City Settles Dispute on Ex-CRA Chief’s Pension

The Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency ended a long-running dispute with its former director Thursday when it approved a legal settlement that reduces John J. Tuite’s retirement package by $295,000.

Tuite’s controversial $1.7-million retirement agreement caused an uproar in 1991 among City Council members, who called the deal excessive and accused the CRA of trying to slip the matter through during the holidays.

Most of the retirement was paid before the council learned of the deal but members were able to hold up the final $435,000. Thursday’s settlement, which had been approved by the council last month, agrees to pay $140,000 of the disputed amount, along with $8,168 in sick leave, in exchange for Tuite’s offer to drop his lawsuit.