La Crosse to pay $65,000 to settle claim by former attorney fired in 2013

Feb. 09--The city of La Crosse has agreed to pay $65,000 to a former assistant city attorney who claimed he was wrongfully fired.

A resolution scheduled to come before the Finance and Personnel Committee Thursday says the city and its insurer have reached an agreement with Peter Kisken to settle claims that he was unfairly targeted and eventually fired in 2013 as retaliation for past city hall disputes.

Kisken was placed on paid administrative leave in May 2012 and fired about a year later after an investigation found numerous violations or deficiencies that included ignoring the city attorney's orders, neglecting cases, sharing confidential legal information and having an improper, two-year workplace relationship with another employee.

Kisken denied the reports, arguing that city officials sought to oust Kisken after a sometimes rocky 22 years in City Hall.

Repeated clashes with former city attorney Pat Houlihan garnered Kisken a $55,000 settlement in 2006 and an office separate from the legal department. He then sought damages in 2010 when he moved back to the legal department under Houlihan's successor, Stephen Matty, but the city disallowed his claim and Kisken did not pursue it in court.

The city's investigation into Kisken and former community development administrator Liana Escott began not long afterward, Kisken argued. Escott resigned in January 2013.

Kisken's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

According to the resolution, it would likely cost more to continue fighting the case before the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Equal Rights Division and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

As of 2014, the city had spent nearly $200,000 on its investigations. The city paid Kisken nearly $67,000 during the time he was on administrative leave.

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