Former Police Commissioner Dennis White is attempting a slew of new charges against the city and incumbent Mayor Kim Janey, including allegations of civil rights violations, discrimination and defamation.
White’s attorneys this week asked the federal judge overseeing the case for permission to file the amended lawsuit and turned the original lawsuit, which sought to prevent Janey from dismissing him, into a full-blown dismissal lawsuit seeking punitive damages.
Janey fired White last month after a drawn out and ugly multi-week battle. White served as police superintendent for just a few days in February after then-Mayor Martin Walsh promoted him – and then quickly put him on administrative leave when decade-old allegations of domestic violence surfaced.
An independent investigation was concluded in May with Janey posting the report and attempting to dismiss White, who was suing, and dragging the process out for three weeks until two judges sided with Janey and said they would bring a lawsuit the dismissal makes no sense – although they have not decided on the merits of a lawsuit after the dismissal.
The report details various allegations, mainly centered on two internal investigations from the 1990s that included allegations that White abused a young relative of his ex-wife and threatened the ex and her daughter. It also contained unnamed sources claiming that White seriously physically abused his then-wife, although he denies this and says she was the aggressor.
The goals of the original lawsuit – for the court to prevent the city from firing White – are now in dispute, so White’s attorney Nick Carter is trying to replace them with new lawyers.
The amended complaint contains allegations that specifically state that Janey defamed White and that she and the city violated his rights and stigmatized improperly dismissed him by posting “scandalous and false information” from the report.
The updated complaint would also allege that Janey discriminated against White by assuming he must have been the attacker and not the victim because he is a man. It is also said that he was discriminated against for being black, although that part of the lawsuit is specifically directed against “the city” and does not mention Janey, who is also black.
The complaint covers other issues, including breach of contract and that the City and Janey violated the Removal Act by being fired. She demands punitive damages and demands from the courts that the city hold a “name clarification”.
“Mayor Janey is focused on moving the city and the police department forward,” a city spokeswoman said in a statement. “We have no comment on the pending litigation.”
Carter said in a statement that the city and Janey White caused “serious, irreparable damage”.
“He was asked to serve as a commissioner back in February, and he accepted this invitation to further public service,” Carter said. “Then the city and the incumbent mayor tore his life and reputation apart over a quick verdict and the publication of false accusations against him.”
In order for this new amended lawsuit to replace the old one, Judge Leo Sorokin – who has handled multiple cases in Boston in the past, including labor costs for the Boston Calling concert – must approve the change. In this case, a status conference is planned for the end of this month.
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