Former city worker files lawsuit against city

LANGLEY — A former public works employee has filed a lawsuit against the city of Langley, claiming he was fired because of his age.

City officials were served with the lawsuit late last week. Mayor Paul Samuelson declined to talk about the case.

“It’s in litigation; no comment on that,” Samuelson said.

The lawsuit, filed in Island County Superior Court on May 16, follows a $4.5 million damage claim that was filed against Langley by Frank Sullivan in March.

Sullivan worked as a public works field supervisor for Langley, and in his claim for damages blamed the mayor’s office for “wrongful termination” when he was let go on Oct. 29, 2010.

The lawsuit seeks damages for an amount to be determined at trial. Sullivan is seeking payment for lost wages and benefits.

In the lawsuit, Sullivan claimed he was discriminated against because of his age. He also said his termination from his city job also violated the city’s personnel policy manual, according to court documents, and said the loss of his job would make it hard for him to get medical insurances for his wife’s disabling medical condition.

Sullivan declined to talk about the lawsuit and directed any questions to his lawyer.

David A. Williams, a Bellevue-based attorney representing Sullivan, said he could not comment publicly about the lawsuit.

City officials had said earlier that Sullivan, 67, was let go last year because of the continued decline in city revenues.

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