Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/13/2015 -- James Jacobsen, the City's Building Engineer,won his termination appeal hearing against the City. The Hearing Officer selected by the City finds the City has not sustained its burden of proof and the must return Mr. Jacobsen to his position as of November 8, 2013 and pay all back wages. The order was dated October 3, 2014. At the hearing, Jacobsen was assisted by long-time friend (non-attorney) Geraldine Cannon.
Oct. 15, 2014, just twelve days after the final and conclusivedecision was rendered by the Hearing Officer, Mr. Jacobsen's Huge Win,the City notified Jacobsen that the Building Engineer position he filled was eliminatedon Dec. 11, 2013, while he was in the process of appealing his termination. Today, the City still refuses to pay back all back wages and refuses to give Jacobsen his job back. The case caught the eye ofaggressive employment, super lawyer, Marina Fraigun. New case against the city filed Feb 2015.
Calabasas City Council attempts to deceive and deprive long term employee of Job and $60,000+ due in back wages after the city loses the employment court battle. fraigunlaw.com
Feb 9, 2015, 10:00 AM at a small gathering in the Penthouse offices of Farigun Law Group in Sherman Oaks, members of the press, James Jacobsen (now 61) and his Legal Counsel Marina Fraigun Employment Law Attorney held a press conference to share the outcome of Mr. Jacobsen'shearing win against the cityand the City's shenanigans thereafter. Attorney Fraigun noted she had filed a Writ of Mandate on behalf of Jacobsen in an attempt to get the Court to order the City to comply with the final and conclusive decision.
Attorney Fraigun stated, "Mr. Jacobsen acting as his own representation and highlighting only the facts in his initial case beat the cities top lawyers and won his wrongful termination case on all counts. A David vs Goliath outcome". After losing their case and being ordered to reinstate Jacobsen and pay him back wages and benefits, the City surprisingly disclosed for the first time that while Mr. Jacobsen was in the middle of his appeal in Nov 2013, the City "eliminated" the position of City Engineer, Mr. Jacobsens job, without notifying him."
Fraigun continued to state, "It is clear from the chronology of events set forth above, including the failure of CITY to contemporaneously notify either Petitioner and/or the Hearing Officer during the Appeal process of CITY's decision to eliminate the Position, the decision of the Hearing Officer, the CITY's ultimate failure and refusal to abide by the Decision, that CITY's decision to eliminate the Position was pretextual, and was intended in all instances to deprive Petitioner of his rightful employment; that the decision to eliminate the Position was taken in an arbitrary, capricious manner and with the intent of circumventing the lawful process of which Petitioner availed himself". This is the case we are presenting said Fraigun.
The City manager Anthony Coroalles who recommended thejob eliminationwas supported bythe city's Mayor Fred Gaines, Mayor Pro Tem David Shapiro and Council members Bozajian (Note: these three city council members are attorneys). Additionally Council member Maurer gave ayes vote andone member voted against, itwas council member Martin.
The painful side effects of this unsupported termination and the City's refusal to comply with the Order reared its' ugly head in the way of personal finances and severe stress. Mr. Jacobsen was forced to rely on his son to paythe house and living expenses so he would not be evicted.
Mr. Jacobsen has experienced severe stress because of his confirmed improper termination and the fact the City continues to refuse to comply with the Order. Stress because the city backhandedly and silently eliminated his position. Stress because of the cities unfounded termination and follow on capricious actions which made Mr. Jacobsen's fair and just win feel more like a complete loss and dashed his hopes of getting back to some form of normalcy in his life. Nothing fair came out of the cities unfounded actions against Mr. Jacobsen.
When David said he would fight Goliath he thought he was going to fight the one giant, not his attorneys, his mayor, some legal story tellers. Fraigun and Jacobsen are up for the fight.
Additional information on this case will be available as the case proceeds and made available by press release. Attorney Marina Kats Fraigun representing Mr. James Jacobsen Petitioner are available for interviews by contacting MERG Digital.
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