Court says former port director’s employment limited
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A panel of judges on the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal has ruled that a law restricting employees of any public board to terms not exceeding those of the members of the board itself does apply to Roger Richard, the former director of the Port of Greater Baton Rouge.
In doing so, the appellate court overturned a lower court’s ruling that found the limitation did not apply to Richard, who has sued the port for wrongful termination.
Richard was ousted by the board in 2005 in a dispute over his discretionary spending of port money. Richard has always said all his spending was publicly disclosed and contends he did nothing improper.
Reached Friday, Richard said he’ll be talking with his attorney about his next step and he couldn’t comment because it’s an ongoing legal matter.
Barry Wilkinson, the port’s attorney, told the port’s board of the court ruling Thursday. Wilkinson noted that 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.
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