Contracts
Former Miami City Attorney Seeks $300K Severance Pay
Posted Feb 29, 2008, 03:52 pm CST
By Martha Neil
After resigning as Miami's city attorney earlier this month, at the same time that a misdemeanor plea agreement concerning his office expenses was announced, Jorge Fernandez is reportedly still hoping for a significant payday.
An employment contract provision says he will be paid six months of severance, regardless of why he leaves. Along with accrued unused vacation and sick time, that proposed payout "could have cost taxpayers almost $300,000," reports the Miami Herald.
Fernandez earned $257,231 at the time of his resignation, the newspaper says.
However, city commissioners—apparently smarting from recent publicity about lavish spending by Fernandez on office expenses that was approved under their watch—unanimously voted yesterday not to pay any severance to Fernandez, even though a legal opinion says severance may be required.
Fernandez' "generous benefits package included a provision for six months' severance upon separation from the city—regardless of the circumstances," explains the Herald. "Commissioners allowed that contract to expire, but a recent outside legal opinion obtained by the city said the contract terms remain in effect because a new, different contract was never adopted."
Details of the plea deal are discussed in an earlier ABAJournal.com post.
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