Paso Robles city attorney threatened with class-action lawsuit
North County resident Gary Lehrer has threatened to file a class-action lawsuit against Paso Robles city attorney Elizabeth Hull and her law firm, Best Best and Krieger, over a litany of allegations related to the city’s failed paid parking program and the handling of former city manager Ty Lewis’ harassment claim.
Lehrer notified the city of the effort in an email prior to Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.
The lawsuit would look into allegations of “excessive legal fees, malpractice, conflict of interest, failure to look into possible ethics violations, improper handling of PRA requests, failure to defend a sitting ... member of council and other improprieties including a possible case of election interference,” Lehrer wrote.
Lehrer said in his email that those organizing the lawsuit also have concerns that Hull’s actions as city attorney have “possibly negatively impacted staff and caused a decline in the city’s reputation.”
He added that Hull’s decisions during the handling of the city’s failed paid parking program “may have led to a long, drawn-out and legally expensive situation.”
Lehrer directed those interested in giving input to visit his website, pasocitizens.org, which includes a form people can fill out to add themselves to the lawsuit.
“Please fill out the form to support and add yourself to a class-action suit against BBK and Elizabeth Hull, city attorney,” the website reads.
On the website, Lehrer also called out the city for not releasing its investigative report into former city manager Ty Lewis’ claim against the city, which accused Councilman Chris Bausch of harassing him and working with Cal Coast News reporter Karen Velie to spread false rumors about him.
Lehrer was named in an addendum document to Lewis’ claim, which accused him, Paso Robles resident Linda George and others of conspiring to oust Lewis from his job.
The city conducted an investigation into Lewis’ claim but never released the final report to The Tribune, citing privacy exemptions under the California Public Records Act.
The Tribune is currently trying to get the investigation report released as part of its public records lawsuit against Bausch and the city. The city refused to represent Bausch in that legal case — a decision Lehrer also took issue with in his email.
The Tribune reached out to Lehrer on Thursday to inquire about his lawsuit effort, but he declined to comment.
Hull also declined to comment but said she had read Lehrer’s email.
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