City of Hopewell responds to lawsuit involving fired City Manager
VENN
HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) -- There has been an update in the lawsuit involving former Hopewell City Manager Dr. Concetta Manker, after the city terminated her as well as the city's clerk. This comes after after city leaders allegedly stated she was "Blackening up" the city.
Manker previosly filed a lawsuit for over $6.8 million lawsuit for racial discrimination against the city and several of its council members.
The City has now released motion 12(b)(6) in response to Manker's lawsuit stating:
By counsel and pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), and move this Court to dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint against them with prejudice, as the Complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Defendants rely upon and incorporate their Brief in Support of this Motion to Dismiss as if fully set forth herein. WHEREFORE, Defendants respectfully request that this Court enter an Order granting the Motion to Dismiss, and dismiss the Complaint against them with prejudice. City of Hopewell
According to city documents, at a special City Council meeting on May 1, Ronnie Ellis made a motion to reconsider the prior motion to terminate, with it passing 4-3. Another motion followed to terminate Dr. Manker's contract with that motion passing 4-3.
The city is denying denying all claims, which according to the Hopewell City Attorney, "It does not admit the truth of any of those claims, which the City denies."
This is a developing story, stay with 8news for more updates.
