Ruling favors BR port in ex-director dispute
Print
Email
Save
Reprints
Twitter
Share
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
A panel of judges on the First Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that a law restricting employees of any public board to terms not exceeding those of the members of the board itself applies to Roger Richard, the former director of the Port of Greater Baton Rouge.
In doing so, the appeals court overturned a lower court’s ruling that found the limitation did not apply to Richard, who sued the port for wrongful termination.
Richard was suspended by the board in 2005 and fired soon after in a dispute over his discretionary spending of port money. Richard has always said all his spending was publicly disclosed and contended he did nothing improper.
Barry Wilkinson, the port’s attorney, told the board of the appeals court ruling Thursday, noting Richard can still apply for a rehearing or appeal it to the Louisiana Supreme Court. He said the port’s position, if upheld, would nullify Richard’s suit without getting into the particulars of the case because Richard shouldn’t have held the job beyond four years anyway.
Wilkinson said the law also means the port erred in giving Richard a contract longer than four years, but he said the port wasn’t aware of the law until after the contract was signed.
 | ||||
| Most Popular | Most Emailed | Hot Topics | ||
