Isaiah Hugley’s lawyer: Firing increases chance of racial discrimination lawsuit
Scott Grubman, the attorney for former city manager Isaiah Hugley, told the Ledger-Enquirer that the likelihood of a racial discrimination lawsuit increased “significantly” in the wake of the Columbus Council’s vote to terminate Hugley.
Grubman and his team were blindsided by the Columbus Council’s 7-3 vote Tuesday to fire Hugley, he said.
“It was a complete surprise,” said Grubman, an attorney with the Atlanta-based law firm Chilivis Grubman. “And we’re still, quite frankly, trying to process it.”
Cease-and-desist letter
In April, Grubman sent a cease-and-desist letter to six Columbus councilors after Councilor Byron Hickey (District 1) questioned whether Hugley violated the city’s code of ethics by not disclosing to the council that his wife, state Rep. Carolyn Hugley (D-Columbus), received a small business grant of approximately $29,000.
Representing Hugley, Grubman demanded an apology and retraction for what he described as a “sustained and continuing campaign of intimidation, accusations, discrimination and defamation” against his client.
This move by the council’s majority to fire Hugley, following the release of an Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office administrative report about the investigation into the Columbus Consolidated Government’s finance department and associated arrests, prompted Grubman to say chances of litigation have gone up “drastically.”
“I think this is a classic example of unlawful racial discrimination and employment discrimination,” he said. “And I’m just really surprised and really saddened that this has happened.”
Grubman pointed to comments made by Councilor Charmaine Crabb (District 5) to investigators that were detailed in the sheriff’s report as an example of the racial discrimination he believes Hugley experienced.
Crabb was quoted by investigators as claiming that Hugley engaged in “mafia type behavior,” Grubman said.
“And when asked why she said that, she explained it’s because he goes to Black churches and encourages the Black residents of Columbus to engage in the civic process,” he said.
Grubman said these comments showed “blatant racism.” This coupled with the fact that less than a week after the report and comment surfaced, Crabb was the councilor who introduced the motion to terminate Hugley.
“Council does not comment on personnel matters,” Crabb said in a text message to the Ledger-Enquirer. “And, particularly now that Mr. Hugley has threatened legal action against the city, we cannot comment.”
Public hearing request
Grubman plans to file a request for a public hearing before the city council for Hugley on or before next Friday’s deadline, he said.
He hopes to use the opportunity to highlight what Grubman describes as “corruption” from Hickey. Grubman previously accused Hickey of violating the code of ethics by trying to improperly influence the city’s decision about whether to award a pay raise to his wife, a corporal with the Columbus Police Department.
“We want transparency,” Grubman said. “We want sunshine. And we hope the hearing will accomplish that. We can’t say that for sure because, unfortunately, they’re the ones who control the hearing as the city council. But here’s what I can assure you: When there’s a federal racial discrimination lawsuit, they’re no longer going to have a choice because we will shine a light on their corruption.”
When asked about what was documented in the sheriff’s administrative report and the arrests, Grubman lambasted the fact that the report “glossed over and ignored” the original reason for the investigation, which was why Hugley’s personal business tax information had been leaked.
He also argued that much of what was included in the report was the “regurgitation of conspiracy theories” and interviews with people “who had axes to grind.”
“Was the city perfect?,” Grubman said. “No. I doubt the city was perfect. And I doubt you will ever find a city, a county, a state, whatever, that is perfect.”
The investigation led to the arrests of former CCG revenue manager Yvonne Ivey and the city’s director of finance, Angelica Alexander.
Hugley wasn’t terminated because of mismanaging the city or incompetence, Grubman said, but rather because some individuals were biased or prejudiced against him.
Possible mayoral campaign
He points to the rumor that Hugley may run for mayor as one of the reasons he believes there’s been a sustained campaign against him. Hugley told the Ledger-Enquirer on May 20 that he was focused on finishing his time as city manager and didn’t know what he planned to do after retirement.
The Ledger-Enquirer reported in December that Hugley planned to retire at the end of this year. He has worked 41 years for CCG, including the past 20 as Columbus’ first Black city manager and its longest-serving one.
“I’m not his political adviser,” Grubman said. “I’m his attorney. But I do know that’s the rumor. And I think the fact that it is the rumor is very important because I think a lot of the people who are behind these baseless allegations are people who would stand to lose if Mr. Hugley ran for mayor because they know he has the support of the people.”
