In September 2013, the City of Monroe Salary and Personnel Committee convened to discuss its Utilities Director, Alan Eckstein’s concerns that the City had inadequately investigated his internal complaint of harassment. The public agenda included the meeting topic as “preliminary consideration of employee issues addressed by the utilities director”. However, during that meeting the committee voted to fire Mr. Eckstein.

On Monday, November 9, 2015 the Court agreed that the City’s termination of Eckstein violated the Wisconsin Open Meetings because the City failed to give proper notice to the public or the media that it might discuss possible discipline of Eckstein at that meeting. As such, the Court granted summary judgment to Eckstein and the other plaintiff in this case, the State of Wisconsin. That decision may be found here: State v City of Monroe – 14FO55.

Attorneys Aaron Halstead and Amanda Kuklinski represent Mr. Eckstein. A trial set for next week will determine damages to be awarded.

Read more in the Wisconsin State Journal article “Judge: Monroe Violated Open Meetings Law When Firing Utilities Director”.

Hawks Quindel, S.C.