City of Inglewood still waiting for confirmation of lawsuit

Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. became aware of a wrongful termination/sexual harassment lawsuit against him, when an orchestrated press conference detailed the sordid events of allegations described by his former girlfriend, turned executive assistant, Melanie McDade-Dickens.

Attorneys representing the city were eager to dismiss allegations, that Mayor Butts likes to engage in hypnosis and use city resources to fund his dalliances with female employees within Inglewood City Hall.

In a statement, [Jennifer] Mira Hashmall, an attorney for the city, said Inglewood is “prepared to fight these outrageous and unfounded allegations all the way to trial.”

“The Mayor categorically denies any and all allegations of coercion or harassment,” Hashmall stated. “This complaint, full of salacious fabrications, is a tactic designed to draw attention away from Ms. McDade’s wrongdoing by smearing others. It will not work.”

Ms. Hashmall could find herself excluded from commenting further on the matter as there are growing concerns there is a conflict of interest as her law firm, Miller Barondess, previously represented McDade-Dickens in a lawsuit filed by Madison Square Garden (MSG) where the owners charged Butts defrauded them out of parking leases now under the control of Murphy’s Bowl LLC.

The city held a special meeting on February 5 to discuss “anticipated litigation” most likely related to McDade’s pending lawsuit, they have not been officially notified of.

A review of the court’s website shows that McDade’s attorneys, the law firm of Douglas Hicks, filed the lawsuit in Superior Court, Jan 25, but there is no record of proof of service to the city.

If the city hasn’t been served, was the press conference a ruse to force a settlement?  If so, will the city’s recent $10 million line of credit be leveraged to pay off McDade?

A settlement also avoids the city council members having to testify, under penalty of perjury, why they voted to give the mayors girlfriend bonuses, promotions, and raises in exchange for foot rubs and sexual favors inside of City Hall.