May 10, 2010
Update on Issues Concerning Supervisor Members
To: CCPOA Board of Directors
All CCPOA Supervisory Members
From: CCPOA Interim Supervisory Vice President,
Kevin Raymond
Subject: Update on Issues Concerning Supervisor Members
Dear Supervisory Member,
On the legal front we are still waiting for a decision regarding the furlough lawsuit by the court of appeals. The final rebuttals by all parties will be complete this week. Basically the judge can rule whenever he wishes. I feel compelled to point out the fact that our suit was filed in March 2009 and has subsequently in essence been fast tracked through the process after the Alameda court ruling in our favor. Although “fast” hardly seems appropriate when dealing with the legal system.
CCSO filed virtually the same suit on behalf of supervisors in November 2009. The state went to great lengths to argue the suits were identical and should be combined. Had they been successful our suit would still be waiting to be heard. Luckily the courts agreed with us, did not combine them, and moved forward. Now we wait for a decision.
A decision in our favor would give the state the final option of going to the State Supreme Court. The Supreme Court could pick up the case, or they could decide they want no part of it, which would end the issue.
Additionally we are moving on with our walk time lawsuit covering rank & file and supervisors. I mention this as we recently received communication from CCSO requesting that we drop supervisors from our suit, or at least drop Avenal and Calipatria supervisors, as they have filed their own suit on behalf of supervisors at those two institutions. Why it took them so long to file and why they only filed for Avenal and Calipatria is beyond me.
The reality is we are 22 months into our walk time lawsuit. We have received over 10,000 documents and have completed over thirty depositions. We have respectfully declined CCSO’s request that we withdraw in any fashion.
I have talked to the Peacekeeper staff about including a section in the magazine (or is it a newspaper now) for supervisors. Supervisors are encouraged to write articles, submit issues and experiences concerning your local institutions to the Peacekeeper. Sharing knowledge and experience only makes us stronger.
