LONG BEACH : Fired Harbor Department Worker Awarded $913,425

A Superior Court jury decided Wednesday that the Long Beach Harbor Department must pay a high-ranking administrator $913,425 in damages for firing him without good cause.

The Compton jury found that the Harbor Department breached its employment contract with Leland R. Hill when it eliminated his position in 1991 as director of planning and engineering.

Months before, Hill had been a top candidate to become executive director of the Harbor Department. Hill’s Lawyer, Charles T. Mathews alleged that Executive Director Steven R. Dillenbeck, who was chosen over Hill, eliminated Hill’s job in a purge.

The Harbor Department’s lawyer, Richard R. Terzian, said Hill’s position was eliminated as part of a cost-cutting reorganization. Terzian had tried to persuade the jury that the Harbor Department did not have a contract with Hill and could dismiss him at any time.

Hill was rehired as an environmental specialist with the department, but that position paid about $56,000 a year, about $43,000 less than his previous post.