Former Lipscomb police chief sues mayor, council - al.

com

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/metro.ssf?/base/news/124876...

(/birminghamnews/) Subscribe (/bnsubscribe/) Today's Paper & More (/birminghamnews/)

TOP STORIES
More Headlines (/news /birminghamnews)

PHOTO GALLERIES
See More Photos (http://photos.al.com /birmingham-news/)

Former Lipscomb police chief sues mayor, council

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

TORAINE NORRIS News staff writer

LATEST COLUMNS

Former Lipscomb Police Chief Conlin Payne has sued Mayor Melanie Bouyer and the City

Council, claiming his firing earlier this month violated his contract and the state's open Driver's Side (/news meetings law. /birminghamnews/drivers.ssf) John Archibald The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Jefferson County by attorneys Kira Fonteneau and Eric Guster, (http://blog.al.com/archiblog/) asks a judge to invalidate any portion of the Lipscomb City Council's July 2 meeting that was Alabama Public in violation of the state's open meetings law. Television should be neutral turf It also seeks any possible fines and sanctions against Bouyer and the councilmembers who (http://blog.al.com attended the meeting. The council, at a special called meeting on July 2, voted 4-2 in a closed /archiblog/2012/06 session to terminate Payne, Bouyer told The Birmingham News. Bouyer did not give a reason /alabama_public_television_shou.html) for the firing, nor disclose how councilmembers voted. 6:00 AM It is not about who is right. And it is not about The state open meetings law prohibits city councils from voting during closed sessions. who is left.
More Columnists (/opinion /birminghamnews /columnists.ssf)

(http://ads.al.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads /www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/metro.ssf /L30/1211257914/Rectangle/ALABAMALIVE /UnitedWay09_AL_News_Multi/UW-300x250.jpg /6246556d434538545a714d414276324a)

SHARE THIS STORY

"If Lipscomb violated the law, which it appears they have done, we intend to recover all remedies that the law will allow for our client," Guster said. "He has a family to take care of and they violated his rights." Lipscomb city attorney James Stewart said he had not received the lawsuit and could not comment. Bouyer was out of town and not available for comment, city officials said. In addition, the suit contends Payne signed a four-year contract with Lipscomb in August 2007. The contract prohibits the city from firing Payne unless the entire council votes to do so, his attorneys argue. Payne is awaiting trial on a child abuse charge, although Bouyer has said the pending case did not influence the firing. Payne has pleaded not guilty. E-mail: tnorris@bhamnews.com

FORUMS Birmingham OPEN HOUSE! (http://www.al.com/forums /birmingham /index.ssf?extlink?artid=268797) by jeremy_addington (http://connect.al.com /user/jeremy_addington /index.html) 12:54 PM YARD SALE SATURDAY JUNE 16!!!!!!!!!!!!! (http://www.al.com/forums /birmingham /index.ssf?extlink?artid=268796) by LBBaker (http://connect.al.com /user/LBBaker/index.html) 11:21 PM
More (/forums/birmingham/)

Former Lipscomb police chief sues mayor, council

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

TORAINE NORRIS News staff writer

Mortgage Rates Hit 2.50%

If you owe under $729k you may qualify for 3.01% APR Govt Refi Plans.
www.SeeRefinanceRates.com

A Fruit That Burns Fat?

Celebrity Doctor Reveals 1 Secret To Getting a Flat Belly
ConsumerLifeStyle.org

Hoover Toyota Tacoma For Sale (http://www.al.com/forums /hoover /index.ssf?extlink?artid=70589) by riley12 (http://connect.al.com /user/riley12/index.html) 9:27 PM OPEN HOUSE! NEED TO SELL!!! (http://www.al.com /forums/hoover /index.ssf?extlink?artid=70588) by jeremy_addington (http://connect.al.com /user/jeremy_addington /index.html) 12:53 PM
More (/forums/hoover/) All Forums (/forums/)

Free Music Downloads

Download Tons Of Free Songs. No Sign Up. Try GrooveStream Now!
groove-stream.com

Former Lipscomb Police Chief Conlin Payne has sued Mayor Melanie Bouyer and the City Council, claiming his firing earlier this month violated his contract and the state's open meetings law. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Jefferson County by attorneys Kira Fonteneau and Eric Guster, asks a judge to invalidate any portion of the Lipscomb City Council's July 2 meeting that was in violation of the state's open meetings law. It also seeks any possible fines and sanctions against Bouyer and the councilmembers who attended the meeting. The council, at a special called meeting on July 2, voted 4-2 in a closed session to terminate Payne, Bouyer told The Birmingham News. Bouyer did not give a reason for the firing, nor disclose

President's Refi Program

Refinance rates hit 3.01% APR! Calculate new mortgage payment now.
www.Refinance.LowerMyBills.com

Most Recent Stories

Mobile County schools superintendent the second-highest paid in Alabama (http://blog.al.com/live/2012/06/mobile_county_schools_superint_8.html) Jefferson County sheriff's sergeant finds injured hawk (http://blog.al.com/spotnews /2012/06/jefferson_county_sheriffs_serg.html) Judge sends attempted bank robbery charge to grand jury, jails Gulf Shores man (http://blog.al.com/live/2012/06/attempted_bank_robbery_suspect.html) Chat live with Driving Miss Crazy about car thefts and more on Monday (http://blog.al.com /drivers-side/2012/06/chat_live_with_driving_miss_cr_29.html) Tropical Storm Debby: Wary Gulf Coast closely watching storm's movement (gallery) (http://blog.al.com/wire/2012/06/tropical_storm_debby_wary_gulf.html)

(http://ads.al.com/RealMedia /ads/click_lx.ads/www.al.com /news/birminghamnews /metro.ssf/L30/1521946380 /SkyScraper2/ALABAMALIVE /MSChildM01_AL_RoS_Sky /image004.gif /6246556d434538545a714d414276324a

BLOGS

Scott Stantis Obituaries from The Huntsville Times: Sunday, June 24 (http://blog.al.com/breaking After 12 years and 11 /2012/06/obituaries_from_the_huntsville_513.html) months, I say goodbye Woman found dead inside west Huntsville apartment (http://blog.al.com/breaking/2012/06 (http://blog.al.com/stantis /woman_found_dead_inside_west_h.html) /2009/08 /after_12_years_and_11_months_i.html) Would-be burglars flee after kicking down door and seeing owner of home inside 5:39 AM (http://blog.al.com/breaking/2012/06/would-be_robbers_flee_after_ki.html) SCOTT STANTIS: UAB students dig for history at Birmingham's Sloss Furnace (http://blog.al.com/spotnews Farewell (http://blog.al.com /2012/06/uab_students_dig_for_history_a.html) /stantis/2009/08 /scott_stantis_farewell.html) Vestavia Hills might ban smoking in all enclosed public facilities (http://blog.al.com 5:37 AM
More (http://blog.al.com /stantis)

/spotnews/2012/06/vestavia_hills_might_ban_smoki.html)

1 of 5

6/24/2012 2:30 PM