Weeks after San Diego City Council members approved a plan allowing lifeguards the option to leave their current union — the San Diego Municipal Employee Association (MEA) — to join the 911 teamsters, MEA officials said in a May 29 memo to union members that an internal investigation resulted in the involuntary resignation of former MEA president and general manager Judie Italiano under a cloud of allegations. “We as MEA’s elected officers placed MEA’s General Manager Judie Italiano on an involuntary leave of absence in order to conduct an unfettered investigation of possible misfeasance in the handling of MEA’s monies,” MEA officials said. “We have concluded that Ms. Italiano breached her duty of trust as MEA’s General Manager by using the MEA credit cards which were entrusted to her… and, in so doing, she incurred a substantial indebtedness to MEA.” The San Diego MEA union represents about 100 full-time lifeguards and nearly 4,500 white-collar city employees. MEA member and San Diego lifeguard Sgt. Ed Harris said Italiano was not fulfilling her member responsibilities. So Harris sued Italiano on or about May 6, citing a September 2006 report from former San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre that alleged Italiano unlawfully used MEA credit cards for personal use. “This continues to unfold and we continue to learn more things — that was the purpose of the lawsuit,” said Harris’ attorney, Amy Lepine. Lepine said she asked lifeguards and MEA members to join the class action lawsuit. According to court documents, by January 2006 Italiano allegedly used MEA credit cards to purchase at least $131,000 of merchandise from stores such as Nordstrom and spent more than $1,000 at Pechanga, Harrah’s and Las Vegas casinos. Three years later, Lepine said she “estimate[s] the amount has doubled.” MEA officials said May 29 that Italiano allegedly reimbursed the union for $13,000. But Lepine said the former general manager owes much more. “We’re hopeful that having her removed will get some money back into the coffers,” Lepine said. “[Union members] pay a substantial amount in dues.” In the May 29 letter to members, MEA officials said they referred the matter to the district attorney’s office for “its determination as to whether any crime was committed…” Harris said he asked San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis’ office to perform a complete audit of the current MEA board. “We’ve received the request to investigate [the MEA] and we’re reviewing it,” said Steve Walker, deputy communications director for Dumanis. Meanwhile, lifeguards continued planning for an election to determine if a majority of San Diego lifeguards want to leave the MEA to join the 911 teamsters, Harris said. “We’re currently working with labor relations and the MEA to come up with the rules of the vote,” Harris said. “Once we get that set up, we’re hoping to come up with a vote sometime in late July.” For more information about Lepine’s class action lawsuit, visit www.lepinelaw.com.