By Gabe Agcaoili. Bay City News.
An architectural engineering firm has filed a lawsuit against the San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD), seeking more than $32 million in damages because a district board trustee allegedly made false accusations against it.
Public relations firm Szabo & Associates said in a statement this week that the lawsuit by its client, Allana Buick & Bers "ABB", arose from allegedly false allegations by SMCCCD board trustee Richard Holober.
The firm said Holober accused ABB of being involved in a "pay to play" scheme with SMCCCD officials. His "false and defamatory statements" were echoed by some of the university district employees, Szabo & Associates said.
The firm alleges that the board trustee made these allegations to harm ABB because he perceived the engineering firm to be on friendly terms with his political opponent, former SMCCCD chancellor Ron Galatolo.
ABB is seeking a total of $32.75 million in damages against SMCCCD due to Holober's allegations that they "caused significant damage to the company's reputation, contractual business relationships and deprived ABB of significant proprietary interests," according to Szabo & Associates.
David McLain, SMCCCD's interim executive director of community and government relations, said the university district "is currently reviewing this claim and has no comment at this time."
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