The Dean Martinez Lawsuit Moves to Federal Court

Added twist: Scott Brown reportedly contemplates an "A" Team encore

Last month, the Standard-Examiner reported that former Ogden City Human Resources Department director Dean Martinez had refiled his lawsuit against Boss Godfrey, and various Godfrey administration officials in Ogden's Second District Court. This morning's Standard-Examiner follows up on developments in the Martinez case, and reports that the lawyers for the Ogden City defendants have successfully moved the matter to federal court, ostensibly because some of the causes of action pleaded in Martinez's case turn on federal issues.

Whether this was a favorable tactic for Godfrey and the other defendants we do not know. As has been demonstrated in recently concluded litigation, Godfrey has seemingly enjoyed something of a home court advantage in the local Second District Court, an advantage that will no doubt disappear in a federal court venue, where the typical federal district court judge exercises a degree of political independence equivalent to that of a medieval Chinese warlord.

And here's an interesting twist: We've learned this week from a highly reliable source that Scott Brown, whose personnel file seems to be the chief evidentiary football in this case, is presently being courted by the Godfrey administration for an encore performance in Ogden City government, and that he'll likely be rejoining the Godfrey "A" Team to sort out the currently unravelling Ogden City financial mess very soon.

Inasmuch as one of the key issues in the Martinez case is the city's alleged failure to have disciplined Mr. Brown for alleged acts of sexual harassment during his previous tenure, it will be interesting to contemplate and observe how his prospective return to the Ogden City payroll may affect the litigation.

Our readers can be assured we'll be closely following further developments in this story.

Comments are invited, as always.