GALVESTON – A federal lawsuit accuses the City of League City and Mayor Pat Hallisey of violating a former city manager’s First Amendment rights.
In court papers filed July 19 in the Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas, Mark Rohr asserts the defendants terminated him late last year in response to two ethics complaints he filed against Hallisey.
Rohr served as League City City Manager from Mar. 31, 2014 to Dec. 13, 2016.
The suit explains that the plaintiff submitted the complaints in the summer of 2016 on claims the mayor committed multiple violations of the City Charter and Rules and Regulations.
According to Rohr, the League City City Council declined to take any action despite the significance of the allegations.
Hallisey purportedly sought to get rid of Rohr and League City City Attorney Nghiem Doan.
While the city council did not come up with the votes to fire Doan at its Dec. 13, 2016, meeting, the original petition says, it approved Rohr’s termination.
Consequently, Rohr seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
He is represented by attorneys Alfonso Kennard, Jr. and Ronald Dupree of the law firm Kennard Richard P.C. in Houston.
Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas Case No. 3:17-CV-0229