A former Warren firefighter, whom city officials accused of collecting pay while living in another state, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Warren Mayor Mark Steenbergh and Deputy Mayor Mike Greiner.
Christopher Patterson filed his suit April 22 in Macomb County Circuit Court. Along with a defamation charge, he also accuses the mayor and his right-hand man of gross negligence, invasion of privacy and other violations. He did not put a dollar amount on the damages he is seeking.
Patterson moved to Knoxville, Tenn., in October 2003, and tried to join the Knoxville Fire Department. Meanwhile, according to Warren officials, he was collecting his full $60,000 annual salary and benefits while paying a Warren firefighter to cover his shifts for several months.
On April 29, 2004, Steenbergh was quoted in the Free Press as saying, "We will root out corruption wherever we can find it," in reference to Patterson. That comment is one of three listed in the lawsuit as proof that Patterson was defamed.
One week before Patterson's case was filed, firefighter Bruce May filed a personal-injury lawsuit against Steenbergh and Greiner, according to court records. May also filed a suit against the City of Warren last July after he was told he could not have a coworker cover his shifts while he served in the military overseas. When the city found out he was having someone fill his shifts, it put him on military leave. A hearing in that case -- also in Macomb County Circuit Court -- is set for June 6.
Meanwhile, Warren Professional Firefighters Union President Scott Halleck said he is working to repair the damaged relationship between the department and the city. He said the union and the city expect to sign an agreement today that would limit the number of consecutive days firefighters could cover shifts for each other.
"That's not what it's meant for," Halleck said of Patterson's use of the system.
Robert Huth Jr., who is representing Steenbergh and Greiner as individuals in the Patterson case, said Patterson's attorneys asked the city leaders in March to retract their public statements. In April, Steenbergh and Greiner said they would not. Four days later, the lawsuit was filed.
"They weren't going to retract anything," Huth said.
In court papers filed May 17, Steenbergh and Greiner denied the defamation charge. They also claim they did not act with reckless disregard for the truth and have qualified privilege as public officials while discussing a matter of public concern.
A message left with lawyers for Patterson was not returned Monday. Patterson and Greiner also did not return messages seeking comment.
Warren officials brought the use of the buddy relief system to light a year ago, when the city charged that Patterson was abusing the system.
A date has not been set for the next hearing in the Patterson case.
Distributed by the Associated Press
