Modesto city clerk sues city, former councilman, alleging mistreatment
Modesto’s longtime city clerk is suing the city and a former councilman alleging she was subjected to inappropriate comments and sexual gestures from the councilman while he was in office and retaliation for raising questions about city spending.
The lawsuit was filed March 1 in Stanislaus County Superior Court and seeks compensatory and punitive damages as well as reimbursement of City Clerk Stephanie Lopez’s legal costs. She is represented by the Stockton-based Dyer Law Firm.
The lawsuit names the city and former Councilman Doug Ridenour as defendants.
His council term expired in November. He did not seek a second term but was one of eight candidates who ran for mayor. Ridenour advanced to the Feb. 2 mayoral runoff election but lost to Sue Zwahlen, who took office Feb. 23.
The lawsuit was expected. Lopez’s attorney, Mike Dyer, has said she would sue the city. The legal action also alleges Lopez was subject to discrimination because of her gender and age. Public records list Lopez’s age as 60. She has worked for Modesto for about 20 years, with nearly the last 13 as city clerk.
Called female staffers ‘the mayor’s girls’
The lawsuit restates the allegations that Lopez has made over the past few years: That in addition to being mistreated by Ridenour, the city punished her for being a whistle-blower for questioning the billing practices of then City Attorney Adam Lindgren. The lawsuit alleges the billing was “likely fraudulent.”
Modesto investigated Lopez’s allegations that she had been mistreated by Ridenour, Lindgren and City Manager Joe Lopez, who is not related to the city clerk.
The 2019 investigation did not substantiate the allegations, but it did find Ridenour had referred to Lopez and two other female employees as “the mayor’s girls.” The city clerk has claimed the city used the investigation to attack her.
Lopez was seen as an ally of then Mayor Ted Brandvold. He presided over a divided and at times bickering and dysfunctional City Council. Ridenour often raised questions about Brandvold’s leadership.
Allegations ‘have no merit’
Ridenour declined to comment on the lawsuit but in the past has denied mistreating the city clerk. City spokesman Thomas Reeves said Modesto is reviewing the lawsuit and would not comment. Lindgren, who stepped down as city attorney for reasons not related to this controversy, said in a text:
“The City Clerk’s statements about our schedules and billings have no merit. ... Our billings have always been accurate, and we have received consistently positive reviews from the City Council for the quality and value of our work.”
Lindgren is the principal in charge of the Sacramento office of Meyers Nave, the law firm the City Council hired in 2014 to serve as its city attorney. Another Meyers Nave attorney now serves as city attorney.
The City Council in December reduced Lopez’s $141,024 salary by 5 percent after another investigation concluded she had emailed public documents without having the city attorney’s office first review them and included comments critical of city officials, primarily the city attorney, in her emails.
The council voted 4-3 to reduce the city clerk’s pay, with Brandvold voting against the reduction, and Ridenour voting for it.
This story was originally published March 9, 2021 at 9:47 AM.
