HONOLULU (KHON2) — Multiple claims against Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi were dismissed in former Honolulu Police Department Chief Joe Logan’s lawsuit against the mayor and the city.
Logan’s lawsuit brings three charges against the City and County of Honolulu, Blangiardi in his official role as mayor and Blangiardi as an individual.
The lawsuit was first filed in July, approximately a month after Logan’s retirement announcement, which he now claims was a forced retirement at the hands of the city and Blangiardi.
The first count claims that Blangiardi and the city violated the Whistleblowers’ Protection Act, alleging that Logan faced retaliation when he reported and objected to alleged illegal practices in the workplace.
On that count, the court dismissed claims against Blangiardi in both his role as mayor and as an individual, but held the claim against the City and County of Honolulu.
The second count claims that Logan’s alleged forced retirement is a violation of the Parnar Claim — or a violation of public policy.
Per public policy, the chief should only be removed by the Honolulu Police Commission, but Logan’s lawsuit claims Blangiardi and the city were responsible for his alleged forced retirement.
Blangiardi, in his role as mayor and as an individual, was dropped from the claim by the court, with the City and County of Honolulu still holding that claim against them.
The third and final claim alleges that the city and Blangiardi intentionally inflicted emotional distress upon Logan, with the lawsuit citing multiple emotional difficulties Logan suffered leading up to and following his alleged forced retirement.
On the final count, the court dismissed claims against the City and County of Honolulu and Blangiardi as mayor.
However, the court sustained the claim against Blangiardi as an individual.
For the first two counts, the City and County of Honolulu will be the sole defendant, while Blangiardi as an individual will be the sole defendant on the third and final count.
Logan is asking for more than $784,000 in damages as a result of his allegations.
In a statement, a city spokesperson said that the municipality is grateful for the dismissals, and their counsel is preparing to address the remaining claims, which they say are unfounded.
“We appreciate the court’s decision and the time and attention the court has spent on this matter,” the spokesperson said. “The city and our corporation counsel are now focused on the remaining claims in the case, which we believe are without merit.”