By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
Ex-Fire Marshal Henry Lopez is shown (right) during the May 2012 Civil Service hearing in which his indefinite suspension was upheld. (File photo by T.J. Tijerina)
A lawsuit has been filed against the City of San Benito in the 444th Judicial District Court following the termination of a longtime city employee.
Former San Benito Fire Marshal Henry Lopez filed the lawsuit on Thursday, March 28, alleging that he was discriminated against based on his age. In the lawsuit he makes allegations against Assistant City Manager Arturo Rodriguez and current Chief of Operations for the San Benito Fire Department, Raul Zuniga, charging that he was the victim of age discrimination as well as retaliation for speaking to the media.
“They were making me do things that I hadn’t done in 20 years,” said Lopez. “They were making me fight fires, but that wasn’t my responsibility. They changed my job description to fit that. It wasn’t in my job description, and they modified it to make me fight fires for retaliation for speaking up against the fact that we were shorthanded on staff.”
Rodriguez said that although he is aware of the lawsuit he could not comment on the matter because he had not yet reviewed it.
City Manager Manuel Lara, however, did comment.
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9 comments
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Yeah,Henry sounds like a professional stroker to me.This “job description”, is typical jargon for it’s not my job.Old Henry has had a pretty good run,a comfy civil service job,probably bought thru friends/relatives,he’s coasted all this time,now somebody else has come along,time to get off the gravy train.But Henry,being the glutton he appears to be,wants more,so lets sue,vatos,oh the San Benito way,about the same real dedication the teachers,administation,and school board in San Benito demonstrate.
I was apalled, but quite frankly not surprised, at reading Henry’s statement, which read “They were making me fight fires, and that is not in my job description”.
If you really know the real Henry, you would know that this is very characteristic of him. He would rather be making school safety presentations, or hanging out at coffee shops.
Five volunteer fire fighters were killed in the West Texas explosion. These volunteer fire responders are for the most part untrained, but their commitment and love to their townspeople compels them to drop what they are doing and respond in time of need. And a professional fireman from Dallas, whom was off duty, was also killed in the explosion.
So here is Henry suing the city, now claiming age discrimination. I wonder how many applications Henry has filled out in neighboring cities, or if he has signed up to be a volunteer for a smaller communities fire department. Catch my drift, yes, I know you do.
So tell me now that our city. Has. Been an. Still is understaffed since my father’s protests against the city you educated fool get your FACTS straight before u OPEN your mouth
Amen brother!
There are so many citizens that can see the corruption that exist at City Hall including the fraud city manager. If you believe that a town of five thousand can support fifty businesses your not smarter than a fifth grader. It is time to organize. If you would like to join the movement….someone will be asking you, so that you can see collected documentation of facts of the city manager…..its time for the citizens to get their city back…..$20.00 for a garage sale permit…..really.
……………….$20.00 for a garage sale permit…..really…………………..
Sorry Ben, but the city has to pay for Lara’s $10,000 pay increase (for what?, I have no idea), his new administrative aide (really busy with all those Chinese business connections), new furniture for the administrative aide, assistant city manager Arturo Rodriguez new $20,000+ new truck so can cruise around the city, , etc. etc. etc .
Time for a …………….”Voter Revolution”…………….
WeThe People you are right the Civil Service Commission is weak and also bought.Check out Russell Lane in front of Civil Service Commission Chairman Larry Drake’s house what do you see speed bumps.I see that strange as the IDEA school is still a ways away.THINGS THAT MAKE YOU SAY HUMMMMM.
Mr.Henry Lopez lawsuit is not the only one the city has filed against it.I hear two police officer’s have also filed lawsuits in District Court.Can you imagine how much the City is going to have to pay if any of those lawsuits are successful.Mr.Lara and Mr.Rodriguez need to stop letting their EGOE’S get in the way of sound judgement.City TAXPAYER’S GET READY this is just the beginning of the LAWSIUT’S.
Whatever you think of Mr. Lopez, one must wonder if this was the right thing to do. Mr. Lopez was a loyal civil servant for many years. The so-called Civil Service Commission is weak, and got just what they were afraid of…a lawsuit!
The reason for termination may have been for the retaliation as much as any discrimination. San Benito has a long and storied history of squashing anyone that would dare speak out of turn. Right Victor?