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Red Phone, I haven’t read anything lately about the Bruce
Tichinin vs. the city of Morgan Hill lawsuit. Did it go away? How
much has the city budgeted for the defense? From where will the
money come if they lose?
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“Red Phone, I haven’t read anything lately about the Bruce Tichinin vs. the city of Morgan Hill lawsuit. Did it go away? How much has the city budgeted for the defense? From where will the money come if they lose?”
Red Phone: Dear Haven’t Heard, no the matter has not gone away, and win or lose the city has spent time and money in defense of the lawsuit.
Red Phone contacted City Attorney Danny Wan to get the low down on the case, which began in 2004, when Tichinin hired a private investigator to follow City Manager Ed Tewes to prove an alleged affair between Tewes and then-city attorney Helene Leichter.
Tichinin believed this affair influenced Leichter’s decisions regarding Tichinin’s clients. Tewes and Leichter denied the affair.
The Morgan Hill City Council denounced Tichinin for his actions and asked him to step down from a city committee.
Tichinin claimed the council’s actions defamed him and harmed his business and said he has every right to use any legal means necessary to build a case, and that private investigations are legal means.
Tichinin filed the lawsuit in January 2006. The trial court dismissed the lawsuit in December 2006. Tichinin appealed, and in September 2009 the 6th District Court of Appeals agreed that he should have a chance to present his case to a jury.
So, now that the background is out of the way, Wan said since the appeals court reversed the trial court’s dismissal, the city and Tichinin have been in discovery in preparation for trial.
“The city does not budget for specific cases, but the budget does provide for legal liabilities,” Wan said. “The defense costs (attorney fees and court costs) are currently covered by the city’s insurer.”
There you have it, good caller. Stay tuned for updates as to any decision.
Missed the meeting but want to attend
“How does one get notified of future meetings of the California High-Speed Rail Authority? I would have been interested in attending the last one, but did not know of it until I read todays article.”
Red Phone: Dear Didn’t Know, this newspaper will normally run a calendar item announcing HSR meetings.
If it didn’t run or you missed it. you can go to www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov, then click on the calendar where you will find a listing of all meetings.
Good caller, hope that answers your question.
