Agenda Item Cover-up

On the Dec. 2 council agenda, Item No. 16 was a claim against the city. Contrary to the general practice of providing names and details, Item 16 was marked “confidential.” While the matter may have been embarrassing for a councilman, it is not of a confidential nature.

The claim was filed on Sept. 6 by Dan Barba-Parkinson, who identifies the city employee causing the damage or injury as Councilman Dave Leckness.

The following information appeared on the form. Barba-Parkinson’s answers are in quotation marks.

Occurrence of event from which the claim arises: Date: “April 2010 to June 2013.”

Time: “All days”

Place (exact and specific location): “28570 Marguerite Pkwy, Mission Viejo, CA”

How and under what circumstances did damage or injury occur? “Around 10/2012 was called by Dave Leckness. ‘Do not dress like this Fred Flintstone’ and continually harassed to hurry and get done w/assigned task.”

What particular action by the city or its employees caused the alleged damage or injury? “Dave Leckness, former mayor and current city councilman, harasses and yells at employees while working at Kwik Kopy and for the city of Mission Viejo, yes he does city work every day. Yes, infrequent printing done for his campaign.”

Give a description of the injury, property damage or loss, so far as is known at the time of this claim. If there were no injuries, state no injuries. “Loss of wages and job from lack of minimum hours (4) a day, no safety or regulations appear even after asking. No medical clinic provided for.”

Give the names(s) of the city employee(s) causing the damage or injury: “David Leckness – mayor, city of M.V. David Leckness, current city councilman.”

Names and addresses of any other person(s) injured: “All employees are yelled at and harassed, including former employees. Chuck, Jason, Guilberto, Chad, John, Lelania, Fred, Mike, Louis, Gary.”

Name and address of the owner of any damaged property: “None”

Damages claimed
(a) Amount claimed as of this date: “Annual salary $37,440”
(b) Estimated amount of future costs: (blank)
(c) Total amount claimed: “$37,440 + holidays and back pay”
(d) Basis for computation of amounts claimed (include copies of all bills, invoices, estimates, photographs, etc.) “Loss of job and wages past and present.”

Names and addresses of all witnesses, hospitals, doctors, etc. “Kwik Kopy employees current and past. See previous list.”

Additional information that might be helpful in considering claim: “Unsafe workplace, also machinery AB Dick presses turn on from a short infrequency and just turns off, safety guards missing or broken to the point of danger, non-compliant chemicals used to work with. I have tried by all means.”

“Dave has also refused since June 14, 2013, to furnish me with my time card records, also failed to notify the EDD that my wages were $21,000 rather than the $7,000 he reported my W-2 fixed that.”