Ziva Branstetter
Tulsa World Enterprise Editor
A former assistant attorney general has filed a wrongful termination claim against the state, saying actions by the attorney general and Workers Compensation Commission unfairly painted him as an “incompetent lawyer” and “conspirator in a criminal act.”
Ted Rossier, former assistant attorney general for the commission, filed the tort claim with the state of Oklahoma on Thursday. Such claims are required first before lawsuits against government agencies can be filed in district court.
In an email to the Tulsa World, Rossier said he was fired without notice or documentation on July 30 by the Attorney General’s Office. Attorney General Scott Pruitt has said Rossier gave incorrect advice to the commission about compliance with the Open Meeting Act.
Pruitt’s statement was prompted by a Tulsa World investigation into the commission. The World found the commission held an unposted meeting with a vendor and discussed subjects during executive sessions that violate the Open Meeting Act.
Rossier’s claim names Pruitt, First Assistant Attorney General Tom Bates, Assistant Attorney General Jan Preslar as well as Workers Compensation Commission Chairman Troy Wilson and Executive Director Rick Farmer. It alleges gender-based employment discrimination, wrongful termination, defamation and other violations of law.
Farmer said Thursday he could not comment on a pending legal claim.
Rossier also requested records from the commission Thursday, including a master calendar and personal calendars of its three commissioners for the past three months. He also seeks emails related to the commission’s compliance with the Open Meeting Act, Rossier’s employment, the agency’s 2015 budget and related issues.
The World requested documents from Pruitt’s office regarding Rossier’s employment. The Open Records Act states that personnel records related to “any final disciplinary action” resulting in termination shall be provided.
Aaron Cooper, a spokesman for Pruitt’s office, said in an email Monday the office had no documents related to final personnel actions involving Rossier.
A review by Pruitt’s office found the commission did not abide by the Open Meeting Act and was given incorrect legal advice. Records show the commission talked about issues that violated the Open Meeting Act in at least 11 out of 13 meetings since December.
Rossier’s claim states he was given no notice of his termination and “escorted out of the building by two armed guards” despite a history of excellent performance reviews. His claim cites examples in which female assistant attorneys general allegedly gave incorrect legal advice yet were not fired.
“The press release by the Attorney General’s Office … operated to imply to the press and the public that I am an incompetent lawyer and/or that I was a conspirator in a criminal act (violation of the Open Meetings Act), thus damaging my character and professional reputation,” his claim states.
“Both Troy Wilson and Rick Farmer provided false information about me to the Office of Attorney General and to the press. which directly resulted in my termination.”
