Reno attorney Mark Mausert issued today blistering rebuttals to the city’s handling of investigations into alleged misconduct of former City Manager Andrew Clinger.
Clinger resigned his position and has denied any wrongdoing. But Mausert today took aim at the city’s handling of the matter.
“City Attorney Karl Hall appears to have trivialized the complaints,” Mausert said. “Quotes like, ‘it is a witch hunt of disgruntled employees’ … demonstrate bias. The bias likely explains the restrictions Hall allegedly placed on the first and second investigations. That is, Hall appears to have compromised the independence (of the investigations).”
Mausert also said that the investigations were incomplete.
“Clinger admits he instructed members of his executive staff to use applications which exploded, or destroyed, encrypted text messages,” Mausert added. “Not only does this subvert public records requests, it constituted an unethical, unprofessional and very dangerous approach to record-keeping – the antithesis of what a City Manager should do.”
Mausert noted Clinger’s previous allegations of misconduct while state budget director under then Governor Jim Gibbons.
Mausert represents three women who have filed four complaints as employees of the city. Two of the women have since resigned.
“The community owes these courageous and talented women a deep debt of gratitude,” Mausert said.
City Attorney Karl Hall disputed Mausert’s claims.
“By placing unreasonable conditions on the City’s investigation, and counseling his clients not to cooperate with the City’s investigator, Mr. Mausert substantially interfered in the City’s complaint resolution process, needlessly increased the cost of the investigation for City taxpayers, delayed the timely resolution of this matter, and created a media circus,” Hall said. “Mr. Mausert embarked on this course of action knowingly, at his own risk, and ultimately, the risk of his clients. The City looks forward to defending itself in court.”
Read Mausert’s news release and 14-page response below.
