Fired — and not liking it at all

Larry Anderson, who was fired as head of Oceanside's Tri-City Healthcare District on October 17 of 2013, filed suit in federal court on March 25, claiming the medical center violated his 14th Amendment rights, among several alleged offenses.

In his complaint, Anderson claims that his employment agreement contains mandatory severance provisions in the event that he might be terminated without cause. Anderson, who originally took his position in early 2009, says there were only limited conditions under which his employment could be terminated without severance payments to him. He says that in September of 2013 Tri-City's board put him on paid leave. He says he was given no explanation of why.

On September 5, 2013, Anderson says he was told that he would not be reimbursed for his attorney fees. He says that, to date, Tri-City refuses to provide a defense for him.

On November 4, 2013, the U-T printed a story listing 14 reasons why Tri-City fired Anderson, including the charge that he pressured the former finance officer to misstate financial reserves and conducted an inappropriate investigation of the Carlsbad mayor. At the time, Anderson denied the charges. The information was given to the public and the press at the same time Anderson received it, he complains. Anderson says his employment was terminated "without notice, without hearing, or the constitutionally required due process or procedure."

Tri City suffered turmoil during Anderson's incumbency. Anderson's lawyer, George Rikos, did not respond to a call and email sent early today (March 30). A Tri-City spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.