Manly, Stewart & Finaldi: Victims of Costa Mesa Police Union Misconduct Challenge Union Demand for Indemnification by Costa Mesa Taxpayers

Costa Mesa City Councilman Steve Mensinger alleges that police union placed a GPS tracking device on his car during last year's election

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Manly, Stewart & Finaldi

Nov 14, 2013, 01:30 ET

COSTA MESA, Calif., Nov. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorneys representing Costa Mesa Mayor Jim Righeimer, Costa Mesa City Councilman Steve Mensinger and their families responded to a demand issued by the Costa Mesa Police Association, a public employee union, seeking indemnification from the taxpayers of the City of Costa Mesa for alleged union harassment, intimidation, malicious persecution and other illegal acts against their clients.

"It is almost beyond comprehension that the Costa Mesa police officers union would demand indemnification from Costa Mesa taxpayers for the consequences of their illegal campaign of harassment and intimidation of two elected City Councilmen," said John Manly, a partner in the Irvine, California based law firm Manly, Stewart & Finaldi.

Costa Mesa Mayor Jim Righeimer and City Councilman Steve Mensinger have sued the Costa Mesa Police Association, their law firm and a private investigator alleging a vicious campaign of harassment and intimidation tied to last year's labor negotiations between the City of Costa Mesa and the police union.

It is alleged that the union, their law firm and a private investigator engaged in a scheme to falsely accuse Mayor Righeimer of driving under the influence and unsuccessfully attempted to lure married Councilman Mensinger into a compromising position with a female "decoy" in a bar.

Further investigation revealed that a police quality GPS tracking device had been placed on Councilman Mensinger's car and remained there throughout his re-election campaign.

In addition to the civil lawsuit, this case is currently being investigated by the Orange County District Attorney and the FBI.

In October, the law firm of Wood, Smith, Henning and Berman (WSHB) filed a letter with the City of Costa Mesa, demanding taxpayer indemnification for the police union.

On Tuesday, November 19, the Costa Mesa City Council is expected to vote in closed session on this demand by the police union for taxpayer indemnification. The union has also demanded that Mayor Righeimer and Councilman Mensinger be prohibited from participating in the debate and vote on indemnification.

One of the partners at WSHB, representing the union in this action is Seymour "Sy" Everrett. He is the brother of current union president, Ed Everrett.

"Mayor Righeimer and Councilman Mensinger are not suing the police department, the City of Costa Mesa or any individual police officers. They are suing a rogue union that used illegal tactics to bully them in contract negotiations. Now, Costa Mesa taxpayers are being asked to pick up the tab and pay the brother of the union leader who is responsible for this mess," said attorney Vince Finaldi.

About Manly, Stewart & Finaldi
Manly, Stewart & Finaldi is a law firm based in Irvine, California, which specializes in representing victims of bullying, intimidation and sexual abuse. Through trial and settlement, Manly, Stewart & Finaldi have assisted in the recover of more than a billion dollars for their victims.

SOURCE Manly, Stewart & Finaldi