Ex-school workers sue, claim wrongful termination
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Two former Kern High School District employees claim they were fired for exposing alleged malpractices in the maintenance and operations division. They are suing the district for millions of dollars in damages.
John Fox and and Clemon Williams Jr. were assistant directors in the maintenance and operations division. They say back in 2003, KHSD gave construction and repair jobs solely to one company, when it should have put out bids to multiple companies, or obtained estimates.
Fox and Williams say they became concerned about the possibility of kickbacks, bribes or improper gifts being given to district employees by the companies benefiting from the sole-source contracts.
"Some of the employees were treated to very lavish parties, yacht trips, out of town trips, all of which John Fox and Clem Williams refused to participate in," the men's attorney, Stephen P. Wainer, says.
The men also claim that because all of the roofing work allegedly went to a company named Garland Roofing Co., the work could have gone to cheaper bids, which could have saved taxpayers money.
"It's not small amounts of money. It's hundreds of thousands of dollars that could have gone to kids' education," says Wainer.
Fox claims he went to the superintendent of the district in 2007 to describe the alleged illegal practices that were occurring, but the superintendent allegedly refused to intervene, and Fox and Williams were subsequently forced to quit.
KHSD spokesman John Teves declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.
Eyewitness News obtained KHSD's statement of charges against Fox and Williams, and in the documents it states that the district let the men go over incompetency, inefficiency and neglect of duty, among other charges.
"On the face, those charges don't amount to terminable offenses, but even more than that, every one of those charges have been trumped up," the attorney says. "They are not true."
Fox and Williams say they are humiliated, and they are seeking millions of dollars in their lawsuit against KHSD. They also alleged discrimination based on age and race.
KHSD has 30 days from the date of the lawsuit complaint filing to respond to the plaintiffs. Wainer adds that a third former KHSD employee is also suing the district, but that person is being represented by another attorney.
KHSD's attorney Leonard Herr said they are investigating the allegations of the complaint and are figuring out the best way to resolve the dispute.
John Fox and and Clemon Williams Jr. were assistant directors in the maintenance and operations division. They say back in 2003, KHSD gave construction and repair jobs solely to one company, when it should have put out bids to multiple companies, or obtained estimates.
Fox and Williams say they became concerned about the possibility of kickbacks, bribes or improper gifts being given to district employees by the companies benefiting from the sole-source contracts.
"Some of the employees were treated to very lavish parties, yacht trips, out of town trips, all of which John Fox and Clem Williams refused to participate in," the men's attorney, Stephen P. Wainer, says.
The men also claim that because all of the roofing work allegedly went to a company named Garland Roofing Co., the work could have gone to cheaper bids, which could have saved taxpayers money.
"It's not small amounts of money. It's hundreds of thousands of dollars that could have gone to kids' education," says Wainer.
Fox claims he went to the superintendent of the district in 2007 to describe the alleged illegal practices that were occurring, but the superintendent allegedly refused to intervene, and Fox and Williams were subsequently forced to quit.
KHSD spokesman John Teves declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.
Eyewitness News obtained KHSD's statement of charges against Fox and Williams, and in the documents it states that the district let the men go over incompetency, inefficiency and neglect of duty, among other charges.
"On the face, those charges don't amount to terminable offenses, but even more than that, every one of those charges have been trumped up," the attorney says. "They are not true."
Fox and Williams say they are humiliated, and they are seeking millions of dollars in their lawsuit against KHSD. They also alleged discrimination based on age and race.
KHSD has 30 days from the date of the lawsuit complaint filing to respond to the plaintiffs. Wainer adds that a third former KHSD employee is also suing the district, but that person is being represented by another attorney.
KHSD's attorney Leonard Herr said they are investigating the allegations of the complaint and are figuring out the best way to resolve the dispute.
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