passed ordinance

*Pay employment discrimination claim of Marcia Perez for $25,000 involving the Office of Management & Finance

equity
claim settlement

Department: Risk Management
Introduced by: Former Mayor Ted Wheeler
Status: Passed

Impact statement

Purpose & background

This Ordinance settles an employment discrimination claim brought by Marcia Perez regarding the failure to hire them during a recruitment process involving the Office of Management & Finance.

Financial impacts

This legislation will have no impact on City revenue. Total cost to the City to settle the claim is $25,000. The source of funding is the City’s Insurance and Claims Fund. All cost of the settlement is in the last fiscal year. This Ordinance does not amend the budget.

Community impacts

This Ordinance settles a tort claim resulting from a recruitment process involving the Office of Management & Finance. No public involvement or input was sought regarding this Ordinance. The City Attorney’s Office and Risk Management have concluded that it is not appropriate to have public involvement in settlement negotiations regarding tort claims or lawsuits against the City. No future public involvement is anticipated or necessary. Approval by City Council of this Ordinance will fully settle a tort claim against the City of Portland.

▸ Full text (the legislation as adopted)

The City of Portland ordains: Section 1. The Council finds: Marcia Perez, through her attorney Dana Sullivan, has filed an employment discrimination claim against the City involving the Office of Management & Finance on July 14, 2023. The claim has been investigated by Risk Management Services. The investigation indicates there is risk the City may be found liable. Therefore, in order to avoid the risk of an adverse jury award, it is prudent to compromise the claim at this time. City Attorney, Risk Management Services, and the Office of Management & Finance recommends the Claim be compromised for the total sum of $25,000, subject to the claimant providing the City with a release in a form to be approved by the City Attorney. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs: The Mayor and the Auditor are hereby authorized to draw and deliver a check in the amount of $25,000 made payable to Buchanan Angeli Altschul & Sullivan LLP Client Trust Account. Risk Management Services will execute a payment authorization in the amount set forth in sub-paragraph (a) above. Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists in order to avoid undue and costly delay in settling this employment discrimination claim; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.

Tally

5 yea 0 nay