The civil case of Steve Green vs. City of Creston, Water Works Board of Trustees is scheduled for a pretrial hearing Dec. 2 at the Wayne County Courthouse in Corydon.
The four-day trial by jury is currently set for Dec. 8.
A lawsuit was filed by Green Nov. 7, 2013, and originally set in Union County before a motion asked for a venue change.
It cited a new venue was necessary because “the inhabitants of Union County are so prejudice against Plaintiff Steve Green that he is unable to obtain a fair trial with a jury in Union County.”
The motion included that Green’s role as the former general manager meant anyone that used the water from Creston Water Works could biased. It also included several articles from the Creston News Advertiser, saying the coverage has allowed the public to form opinions before criminal charges have been filed.
A judge granted the venue change Oct. 21.
Green will be represented by Michael J. Carroll and Richard Owen McConville.
The City of Creston and the Water Works Board will be represented by Patrick D. Smith.
Background
Green — who was the former general manager at Creston Water Works for 34 years — was terminated in June 2013 by the water board after a special investigation report by the state auditor revealed almost $90,000 in improper and unsupported disbursements between July 2005 and November 2012.
The lawsuit asks for Green to be paid the wages due under his contract, including vacation and sick leave because the breach of contract caused him financial harm.
Green and his lawyer believe the auditor’s report “is filled with conclusions unsupported by facts, inferences without basis, and incorrect conclusions about each of the alleged improper and unsupported disbursements.”
No criminal charges have been filed against Green at this time. That case is being handled by the Iowa Attorney General.