YORBA LINDA
Former City Manager Arthur C. Simonian, who stayed silent when he was fired last week by a divided City Council, may be having his say in court.
Craig Scott, Simonian’s lawyer, said he plans to file a lawsuit today against the city, seeking to reverse the council’s decision to suspend the longtime city manager.
The council put Simonian on administrative leave Aug. 16, before launching an investigation into allegations that he mismanaged city money and paid himself and his top aides secret bonuses.
On Sept. 7, the council voted to fire Simonian, effective Dec. 9. He will remain on administrative leave until then.
Simonian, who served as the top city official for 27 years, has denied the charges, saying that the bonuses were doled out according to city policy.
The court papers to be filed today in Santa Ana Superior Court--a petition for a writ of mandate, a complaint for declaratory relief and an injunctive release--say that Simonian was not properly notified of the Aug. 16 council meeting and that the City Council should have provided a written notice 24 hours in advance, Scott said.
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