Claim by Fired Official Rejected, Another Stands
A federal judge has dismissed a claim by former Oxnard Finance Director Phillip Molina that he was wrongfully fired, but allowed Molina’s claim that he was defamed by a city official to go to trial July 17.
U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder ruled last week that City Manager Edmund Sotelo acted properly in dismissing Molina in October 1999. But she denied a city motion to throw out the case.
Molina was seeking $700,000 from the city for his abrupt firing after a clash with Councilmen Tom Holden and Dean Maulhardt. The dispute concerned whether it made economic sense for the city to build a second River Ridge golf course as part of a 416-home community in the city’s northeast.
Snyder dismissed six of seven causes of action and prohibited a jury from awarding Molina punitive damages.
Molina alleges that Sotelo slandered him in comments to former Councilwoman Dorothy Maron. Sotelo denies the charge.
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