City to hire law firm after aggrieved cops file $39 million suit

Nearly two months after five Long Beach police officers and one recent retiree filed a $39 million federal lawsuit against the city amid allegations of political retribution and violations of their civil rights, the city intends to hire outside legal counsel as the litigation moves forward.

The city is looking to retain the services of Uniondale-based Forchelli, Curto, Deegan, Schwartz, Mineo & Terrana, LLP. On Tuesday, the council will be asked to approve a resolution authorizing City Manager Jack Schnirman to enter into a retainer agreement with the firm to defend the city.

According to the resolution — which was posted on the city’s website on Friday — because the lawsuit was filed against the city and a number of city officials, the move to retain legal representation is intended to “avoid any potential conflict of interest” and it is in the “city’s best interest to obtain outside counsel to represent the city and city officials.”

The suit, filed on May 23 in U.S. District Court, names the City Council, City Manager Jack Schnirman, Police Commissioner Michael Tangney, the Long Beach Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association and former PBA President Stefan Chernaski, and claims that officers James Canner, Karl Hayes, James McCormack, Jose Miguez, John Radin and Benjamin Tayne were denied their civil rights under the Constitution’s First and 14th Amendments. Each is seeking $6.5 million in damages.

The suit includes allegations of political retribution for the officers’ support of the Republican-led coalition’s election bid last year, and claims that the current administration doled out patronage jobs and gave raises to officers who supported the Democrats in the November election. It alleges that Tangney demoted, reassigned and filed “baseless, malicious, inappropriate and untimely departmental charges” against the plaintiffs as retribution for their support of Republican-led coalition candidates during the 2011 campaign.