INGLEWOOD – Treasurer Wanda Brown received a favorable ruling yesterday by the presiding judge in her lawsuit against the City of Inglewood, Mayor James T. Butts, and the council. The Court is allowing her to amend her complaint to include misuse of public funds under Penal Code Section 424.
“The Court denied the Anti-SLAPP Motion to Strike, and granted Ms. Brown leave to amend her complaint for damages,” said Richard Kinnan, Brown’s attorney. “We look forward to proving our case going forward, and believe Ms. Brown has a strong claim of wrongful employment retaliation.”
The City filed the Anti-SLAPP Motion to Strike arguing the council’s criticism of the treasurer was protected speech, and since Brown is an elected official, not an employee, she didn’t have grounds to file for whistleblower protection.
Brown’s ability to amend her complaint is believed to be related to an alleged overpayment made to Pinner Construction for the building of the Inglewood Senior Center.
Will this lawsuit end the mayor’s political career?