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"The WOrst Is Yet To Come" <br /> <br />Report <br /> <br /> The growing concern with the problem of personal accountability of Public <br /> Officials for actions performed in the course of their duties is exemplified in a <br /> report made by the insurance committee of a large state municipal association. <br /> <br /> The report states that the pace of "mai practice" suits filed'against city bfficials. <br /> in that state is expected to pick up in the future and goes on to say that the <br /> ev dence suggests that the worst s yet to come. This conclusion is based on~ <br /> a survey of a number of randomly selected cities in the state. Nearl/one out of <br /> three reporting cities stated that their officials have been involved-in "mai- <br /> practice" litigation in federal and state courts ..... <br /> <br /> Samples of such litigation include: <br /> · A $1,000,000 suit for wrongful discharge from employment; <br /> ·A suit asking for $25,000 from each named city official for Violation of <br /> certain civil rights; <br /> <br /> ·A suit asking for attorney's fees'alleging capricious acts in' denying a' <br /> request for rezoning; <br /> ·A suit alleging conspiracy to deprive minorities of their ci(,il rights by <br /> means of certain zoning practices.. ;.- <br /> <br /> The report summarizes major areas of exposure including: <br /> · Civil Rights. . .--..' .~ .: <br /> · Unfair discharge, dismissal or disciplining of public employees. <br /> · Denial of licenses. <br /> · Denial of building permits. <br /> ·Alleged race, sex or other types of discrimination in violation of the <br /> Fourteenth Amendment. <br /> <br /> In light of these facts, the report suggests that it may become increasingly <br /> difficult to attract responsible individuals to public service unless the public <br /> entity can provide adequate protection against such hazards in the form of <br /> <br /> - .. -: <br /> <br />I <br /> <br /> <br />