Courts' Whistleblower Update
The Administrative Office of the Courts now says that a whistle-blower's assertion that he was effectively demoted is false.
But the whistleblower, Michael Paul, says, "Ha! What a crock."
Paul says his advanced computer clearances have been rescinded and he has been assigned to advise the same people he blew the whistle on for allegedly allowing private vendors who maintain courthouses around the state to operate without required contractors' licenses and to overcharge for services. He said he has been assigned "to a project that I have documented is destined to fail in a very expensive way with no power to change it."
But the whistleblower, Michael Paul, says, "Ha! What a crock."
Paul says his advanced computer clearances have been rescinded and he has been assigned to advise the same people he blew the whistle on for allegedly allowing private vendors who maintain courthouses around the state to operate without required contractors' licenses and to overcharge for services. He said he has been assigned "to a project that I have documented is destined to fail in a very expensive way with no power to change it."
Here is the Administrative Office of the Courts' full statement:
"Mr. Paul's suggestion that he has been 'demoted' is factually incorrect. His job duties have been clarified to conform with what he has in fact been doing for the past 18 months, and there has been no change in his title, principal job duties, or salary.
"As a result of the transfers of hundreds of court facilities and undertaking work on numerous court construction projects, there has been a dramatic increase in the volume of court maintenance, repair, and construction over the past 18 months. Over this period, Mr. Paul's work has focused more on providing support on projects with the Office of Court Construction and Management (OCCM), and less with other divisions of the AOC he had previously been supporting.
"In light of significant increases in Mr. Paul's workload, his manager expressed concern several weeks ago that he was being stretched too thin and asked him in which area he thought he could add the most value. Mr. Paul said that his preference was to continue working with OCCM on building automation systems. That is precisely what has been identified as his principal area of responsibility going forward."
Click here to read more on AccountableCalifornia.org about misplaced priorities at the court's top office.
"Mr. Paul's suggestion that he has been 'demoted' is factually incorrect. His job duties have been clarified to conform with what he has in fact been doing for the past 18 months, and there has been no change in his title, principal job duties, or salary.
"As a result of the transfers of hundreds of court facilities and undertaking work on numerous court construction projects, there has been a dramatic increase in the volume of court maintenance, repair, and construction over the past 18 months. Over this period, Mr. Paul's work has focused more on providing support on projects with the Office of Court Construction and Management (OCCM), and less with other divisions of the AOC he had previously been supporting.
"In light of significant increases in Mr. Paul's workload, his manager expressed concern several weeks ago that he was being stretched too thin and asked him in which area he thought he could add the most value. Mr. Paul said that his preference was to continue working with OCCM on building automation systems. That is precisely what has been identified as his principal area of responsibility going forward."
- Ted Rohrlich
Click here to read more on AccountableCalifornia.org about misplaced priorities at the court's top office.
Leave a comment