Attorney says Calif city owes money to former city manager charged in corruption scandal
By APThursday, October 7, 2010
Attorney: Calif. city owes money to ousted manager
LOS ANGELES — An attorney for a former city manager charged in a corruption scandal claims the Southern California city of Bell owes his client a severance package and other benefits.
Lawyer James Spertus told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday that Bell agreed to pay Robert Rizzo back pay and a severance package when he resigned in July.
Spertus says the city is violating state labor laws by not paying up.
Rizzo also has asked the city to pay his legal bills.
Bell’s acting city attorney, Jamie Casso, says he can’t comment because it is a personnel matter.
Rizzo and seven other current and former city officials have been charged with misappropriating public funds.
When perks such as vacation, insurance and other benefits were added to his $787,637 salary, Rizzo’s total compensation package was about $1.5 million a year.
Information from: Los Angeles Times, www.latimes.com
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ousted Bell, Calif.’s City Manager Robert Rizzo has been released from jail after a judge cleared him to post $2 million bail.
According to inmate information on the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department’s website, Rizzo was released from Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles at 11:58 p.m. Wednesday.
Rizzo was cleared to be released earlier Wednesday after a judge determined that the properties being used as collateral to secure his $2 million bail were not tied to Rizzo’s alleged illegal activity.
Rizzo had been jailed since Sept. 21 when he and seven other current and former Bell officials were arrested for allegedly bilking taxpayers in the working-class suburb out of more than $5.5 million in salaries, loans and benefits.
