Racism charged in city complaint
Lolita Harper
CIVIC CENTER -- Two former employees of the Burbank Public Services
Department have filed claims against the city, alleging a hostile work
environment and acts of retaliation by a supervisor.
In a claim received by the city on Jan. 9, Marie Galvez alleged that
her supervisor, Richard Corbi, retaliated against her after she filed an
in-house complaint with the Public Service Department regarding a hostile
work environment.
A month later, Swen Williams -- who also also filed a hostile work
place complaint within the department -- accused Corbi of the same
retaliatory actions.
In the initial in-house complaint, filed with the Public Services
Department on April 4, 2000, Galvez, Williams and their colleague, Larry
Wagenbach, attached a long list of complaints about Corbi’s work place
behavior, alleging that he “demonstrate[d] racist and chauvinistic
behavior.”
During office hours, Corbi referred to his African-American neighbors
as “dirty [n-words]” and Latinos as “wetbacks,” the complaint reads.
On April 10, 2000, Galvez and Williams received memos from Corbi
outlining additional work responsibilities, according to the claim. Corbi
allegedly required both Galvez and Williams to submit weekly activity
reports and time cards, things not required of other department
employees.
Galvez and Williams have not worked for the city of Burbank for about
a year. They are seeking damages for wages lost when they were allegedly
forced out of their positions. Galvez left her position after 13 years,
and Williams after 11.
Both claims have been denied by the city, said Robert Marquez, the
attorney representing Galvez and Williams. The next step will be to file
a lawsuit against the city, he said.
Marquez declined to comment about the specifics of the lawsuit until
it is filed.
The claims filed by Galvez and Williams follow another lawsuit against
the city claiming racial, gender and age discrimination. Marjorie George,
63, Deborah McMurray, 54, and Tina Staffon, 31, accused the city of
passing them over for promotion due to a “good old boy” mentality, the
women alleged.
“The fact that both Robert Marquez and I represent clients with
complaints against the city shows that there’s a problem there,” said
Brad Gage, the attorney for George, McMurray and Staffon.
Management Services Director John Nicoll said Burbank city policy
dictates he not comment on pending litigation or personnel matters.