February 12–19, 1998

hit and run

Sue Ed

A Common Pleas Court judge has ruled that the city's arguments notwithstanding, the organization representing some non-union city workers has the right to sue over Mayor Rendell's alleged circumvention of civil service rules.

The attorneys were notified on Tuesday that Judge Mary Colins ruled without comment that the Association of City Management and Professional Employees (ACMPE) may proceed with its suit against the city over hundreds of Rendell administration appointees who are exempt from the civil service process.

In a suit filed last spring, ACMPE contends that at least 500 city workers, collectively earning around $30 million, were appointed to their positions in direct violation of the civil service system established by the city's Home Rule Charter. The city had argued that the appointments are legal, and that ACMPE lacked the legal standing to bring the suit. But the judge disagreed.

"It means the suit goes on the road to trial," says Gail Lopez-Henriquez, the attorney representing ACMPE. In the next phase, the discovery period, Lopez-Henriquez will demand documentation explaining how and why these appointees got their jobs.

The plaintiffs in the suit are ACMPE chairman John Crapper and two city workers who claim their careers have been negatively impacted by illegal appointments.

Richard Feder, the Law Department attorney representing the city, declined to comment on the judge's ruling.

-Frank Lewis