The two documents uploaded (opposition of motion to strike incorrectly labeled) NegleyAppealRedacted and (Negly’s Appeal document incorrectly labeled) NegleyReplyRedacted (this document was scanned upside down. Right click and rotate it twice to make it rightside up) are the two briefs filed by Paula Negley with respect to her appeal. For those not in the know, Paula Negley worked in the Labor Relations Unit of the Human Resounces Department.
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She filed an internal complaint about a new hire being brought in to do the same work for higher pay and special consultant classificiation. From there, the AOC made her life a living hell having her jump through hoop after hoop for everything. They wanted her to quit. They did everything in their power to encourage her to quit including publicly humiliating her in front of coworkers, denying her overnight travel to faraway places and questioning every expense she submitted regardless of its legitimacy. Sometimes questioning the same expenses over and over even when provided with the same answer over and over.
Paula took her equal pay case to the federal courts where Marilyn Hall Patel would then dismiss the expanded equal pay/wrongful termination suit in a summary judgment. The suit itself implicates Ron George, Bill Vickrey and Ron Overholt for their roles in doing nothing to address the inequity. Ultimately, Paula Negley was wrongfully terminated for following a court order to turn over documents in discovery. Documents that were confidential and placed in her office by her superiors who were the only ones who had access to it.
Marilyn Hall Patel, who had presented the chief justice an award just a short time before the Negley trial determined that Negley had no case and therefore there would be no trial, dismissing Paula’s claim in a motion for summary judgment, denying her the audience of a jury.
These are the first two documents. There will be additional supporting documents scanned and added to this post that outlines the underlying case as we scan them just below this entry in a list so check back.
Since one of our media partners got PDF scanning documents down we will be assembling and posting documents from Jon Wintermeyer and Michael Paul as well. Look for those in an upcoming post.
Michael Paul
May 17, 2011
The underlying lawsuit exhibits repulsive behavior for any employer to engage in.
The appeal and documents filed by the AOC attorneys and Negley’s reply makes the AOC attorneys look like the keystone cops of the legal world. Be it a matter of sanctions for flagrantly violating the rules of court or sanctions for perjury and trying to submit documents that are not a part of the official record or all on its own merits, this case should go to a jury trial.
stuart michael
May 18, 2011
I am a retired trial court employee who worked with Paula on labor & HR issues. She has a unique combination of union and management experience, but she was too outspoken for the AOC, so they drove her out.
This is what’s happened to most of the good people who used to be in the AOC’s HR Dept – now they’re all gone or bribed/cowed into toeing the party line. Instead of working for the trial courts, they just lie to them now.
She’s continuing to fight for what’s right, not just for herself. The AOC is continuing to fight for itself – and everyone else pays for it.
Whether its HR, OCM, CCMS, OGC or Exec Services, its all the same bloated barrel
of rotten apples – all the way up to the core
Judicial Council Watcher
October 13, 2011
Since the Negley v. AOC hearing is tomorrow at the 9th district court of appeals in San Francisco tomorrow, we bumped this post.
In case you’re contemplating attending oral arguments the address is:
THE JAMES R. BROWNING COURTHOUSE
95 7TH STREET,
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103
Between Market and Mission Street.
Another reason you might wish to visit this courthouse is that it was designed and built by the same group that build Hearst Castle – only they finished this project before traveling to San Simeon. This building is an artistic masterpiece and a national treasure.
JusticeCalifornia
October 13, 2011
What is not here is Paula Negley’s opening appellate brief specifically regarding the summary judgment which is STUNNING. JCW, do you have it?
With all the discussion about AOC hiring, and non-disclosure of special consultants, and AOC treatment of employees, and whistleblower retaliation, this is a must-read.
antonatrail
October 14, 2011
Very well put together brief. My stomach is still in knots after reading it! You’d have to be a cold person devoid of empathy not to feel queasy at visualizing what happened to Paula Negley. That’s the thing, too; the brief helps one visualize it well.