The Manhattan Beach Firefighters Association and 12 individual firefighters sued the city, alleging retaliation for their 2018 vote of no confidence in the fire chief and subsequent public advocacy campaigns. The firefighters claim the city responded by imposing a contract in 2022 that cut pay, benefits, and autonomy while forcing excessive overtime through understaffing.
U.S. District Judge Holly J. Vedder found the firefighters established a prima facie retaliation case, noting City Manager Bruce Moe's inflammatory comments comparing negotiations with the union to 'appeasement policy' with Nazi Germany. 'The City Manager will have to get bloody to resolves [sic] this issue – no question,' Moe wrote in notes to himself. The judge also cited text messages from fire officials calling union members 'shamefully shameless' and 'those idiots' after the vote of no confidence.
The case centers on the city's September 2022 decision to impose contract terms after failed negotiations, including limiting vacation time, reducing training compensation, and eliminating positions. Defendants argued they had legitimate administrative reasons focused on reducing overtime costs, but the court found evidence suggesting these explanations were pretextual.
The ruling sets up a trial on whether the city's actions violated the firefighters' constitutional rights. The judge granted summary judgment dismissing individual claims against City Manager Moe and HR Director Lisa Jenkins, finding they lacked sufficient decision-making authority, while allowing the municipal liability claim against the city to proceed.