Posted on 03/07/2003 9:52:52 AM PST by calif_reaganite
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 6, 2003
Contact: Christopher Mays 530-902-4444
Fired Conservative Columnist Wins Lawsuit; Editor-in-Chief Admits Guilt
Davis — Fired conservative columnist, Igor Birman, was awarded $583.33 in lost wages by the Yolo County Small Claims Court, after Fitzgerald Vo, his former employer and editor-in-chief of The California Aggie admitted breaching Birman's contract.
After a Court-requested mediation session, Vo acknowledged that Birman's dismissal on New Year's Day of 2003 was in violation of the terms of the employment contract that both sides signed in October 2002. Birman was then awarded the full amount of damages sought from the Aggie.
Birman was dismissed from his position as the sole conservative columnist at the Aggie, the daily student newspaper at UC Davis, by Fitzgerald Vo, despite a contract lasting until the end of June 2003. In his termination notice, Vo cited Birman's "tendency to enrage members of the opposing causes" as the reason for the dismissal. Shortly thereafter, Birman filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit against the newspaper.
"I strongly believe that people should be held accountable for their actions," Birman said. "When Mr. Vo fired me, not only did he commit a travesty by silencing the only conservative voice at the Aggie, he actually broke the law. His reckless disregard for a binding contract was an inexcusable display of arrogance. Today, however, Mr. Vo was held responsible for his actions and justice was served," he added.
Birman further pointed out that he intends to donate the entire amount of the damages to the Young Conservatives Foundation. "When I filed this case, I was seeking a moral victory, not personal monetary gain. That goal has been accomplished. The money awarded will go towards strengthening the conservative movement both at UC Davis and across California, so that conservative thought is given an opportunity to grow in this climate of general hostility," Birman said.
The case is Birman vs. The California Aggie, C.V.CL 0353. Birman may be reached at 510-714-0440 and his contract, termination notice and the Court’s disposition will be made available upon request.
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The man was able to recoup a weeks pay, or so.
That's *it*.
Now had he sued in Superior Court (<--?) for punitive damages -- based upon an allegation he had been the victim of discrimination -- he proved was the direct result of his ideological belief(s)?
Fine. Great. Hallelujah!
I'd buy beers for the house.
But that's not what happened, here.
Moreover, to aggravate matters for this guy even worse?
I hope he didn't collect *any* UC benefits while between jobs, following his "illegal" termination.
Because if he did?
There's a very good possibility the State of California will come after him to be reimbursed the benefits they've paid him over the time covered by this "settlement."
With as broke as CA is, that scenario's highly likely.
So, he'd better hang on to that whopping $500 (& change) for a while, in lieu of *donating* it to anyone.
Sorry, I would've LOVED to have learned this guy had really let 'em have it.
...with both barrels.
What about the punitive damages, oh say , $50,000,000 so they won't do it again
The fact that a student newspaper column could "enrage members of opposing causes" should be meat and potatoes for a student paper.
Vo's a ho.
I must have dyslexia. I thougt it said, "Fired Communist Wins Lawsuit."
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