Another claim filed
in health dept. flap
Sac Bee Excloo
MARYSVILLE 6/26/02 (YSN) - The Yuba County public health officer has filed a $4 million tort claim accusing a county supervisor and four others of scheming to run him out of the county, allegedly out of contempt for his evangelical Christian beliefs.
The claim Dr. Joseph Cassady filed June 20 names Supervisor Mary Jane Griego, former county health and human services director Mike Noda as leaders of an alleged on-going conspiracy to defame him and force him out of his job.
"Anyone can sue. Winning is something else. I'm not going to let it bother me," Griego said upon hearing of the claim.
Also named were suspended health department managers Beverly Craig and Carolyn Williams, and Ed Fleming, a private citizen active in Democratic politics.
In his claim, Cassady described himself as churchgoer who has "publicly professed his Christian beliefs and his associations with the Truth Tabernacle, Glad Tidings Church, Twin Cities Rescue Mission, and other evangelical Christian activities."
"Hatred, hostility and contempt" for these beliefs motivated the alleged conspiracy, in violation of the First Amendment, Cassady alleged.
The 11-page claim alleged that Noda, Craig and Williams abused their authority by passing false accusations against the doctor to state regulatory agencies in an effort to damage his professional reputation.
In January, Noda forwarded the state Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement several complaints he reported receiving involving Cassady.
Included was an anonymous Dec. 20, 2001 letter accusing Cassady of being "a 'white collar' drug dealer who is dealing legal drugs through the Yuba County Jail, according to the claim.
A subsequent BNE probe found no factual basis for the complaints. Cassady claims Noda should have known the complaints were groundless.
"Typical Cassady," Noda said in denying the allegations.
Before the BNE's investigative report came out in March, the board of supervisors placed Noda on paid leave. Noda tried to resign in April, but was fired, instead. Craig and Williams remain on paid administrative leave.
For the first time, Cassady has alleged that Craig authored the false "anonymous" letter to the state Department of Health Services. Craig could not be reached for comment, but she has previously denied any wrongdoing.
The detailed claim also alleged that Griego, Fleming, Noda Craig and Williams have met with others to spread false stories about Cassady. As a result, Cassady's reputation and chances of future employment were needlessly harmed, according to the claim.
The claim further alleged a confidential internal audit of the health department has revealed that "administrators improperly provided computer services for political activist Ed Fleming , a co-conspirator ... to destroy Dr. Cassady."
Fleming could not be reached for comment.
Earlier this month Noda filed a $1.5 million claim, alleging his right to free speech was violated when he obeyed his legal duty to report suspected Medi-Cal fraud to state law enforcement officials.
Williams have filed claims against the county on similar grounds, and the supervisors have denied them. They have not yet filed an expected civil suit. Their claims are for unspecified amounts.
Craig and Fleming could not be reached for comment.
Earlier this month Noda filed a $1.5 million claim, alleging his right to free speech was violated when he obeyed his legal duty to report suspected Medi-Cal fraud to state law enforcement officials.
Williams have filed claims against the county on similar grounds, and the supervisors have denied them. They have not yet filed an expected civil suit. Their claims are for unspecified amounts.
in health dept. flap
Sac Bee Excloo
MARYSVILLE 6/26/02 (YSN) - The Yuba County public health officer has filed a $4 million tort claim accusing a county supervisor and four others of scheming to run him out of the county, allegedly out of contempt for his evangelical Christian beliefs.
The claim Dr. Joseph Cassady filed June 20 names Supervisor Mary Jane Griego, former county health and human services director Mike Noda as leaders of an alleged on-going conspiracy to defame him and force him out of his job.
"Anyone can sue. Winning is something else. I'm not going to let it bother me," Griego said upon hearing of the claim.
Also named were suspended health department managers Beverly Craig and Carolyn Williams, and Ed Fleming, a private citizen active in Democratic politics.
In his claim, Cassady described himself as churchgoer who has "publicly professed his Christian beliefs and his associations with the Truth Tabernacle, Glad Tidings Church, Twin Cities Rescue Mission, and other evangelical Christian activities."
"Hatred, hostility and contempt" for these beliefs motivated the alleged conspiracy, in violation of the First Amendment, Cassady alleged.
The 11-page claim alleged that Noda, Craig and Williams abused their authority by passing false accusations against the doctor to state regulatory agencies in an effort to damage his professional reputation.
In January, Noda forwarded the state Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement several complaints he reported receiving involving Cassady.
Included was an anonymous Dec. 20, 2001 letter accusing Cassady of being "a 'white collar' drug dealer who is dealing legal drugs through the Yuba County Jail, according to the claim.
A subsequent BNE probe found no factual basis for the complaints. Cassady claims Noda should have known the complaints were groundless.
"Typical Cassady," Noda said in denying the allegations.
Before the BNE's investigative report came out in March, the board of supervisors placed Noda on paid leave. Noda tried to resign in April, but was fired, instead. Craig and Williams remain on paid administrative leave.
For the first time, Cassady has alleged that Craig authored the false "anonymous" letter to the state Department of Health Services. Craig could not be reached for comment, but she has previously denied any wrongdoing.
The detailed claim also alleged that Griego, Fleming, Noda Craig and Williams have met with others to spread false stories about Cassady. As a result, Cassady's reputation and chances of future employment were needlessly harmed, according to the claim.
The claim further alleged a confidential internal audit of the health department has revealed that "administrators improperly provided computer services for political activist Ed Fleming , a co-conspirator ... to destroy Dr. Cassady."
Fleming could not be reached for comment.
Earlier this month Noda filed a $1.5 million claim, alleging his right to free speech was violated when he obeyed his legal duty to report suspected Medi-Cal fraud to state law enforcement officials.
Williams have filed claims against the county on similar grounds, and the supervisors have denied them. They have not yet filed an expected civil suit. Their claims are for unspecified amounts.
Craig and Fleming could not be reached for comment.
Earlier this month Noda filed a $1.5 million claim, alleging his right to free speech was violated when he obeyed his legal duty to report suspected Medi-Cal fraud to state law enforcement officials.
Williams have filed claims against the county on similar grounds, and the supervisors have denied them. They have not yet filed an expected civil suit. Their claims are for unspecified amounts.
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