A Multnomah County judge has dismissed a $581,000 lawsuit brought against the city by Wade Nkrumah, a former spokesman for Mayor Sam Adams who argued his job was made so awful by the mayor’s prevaricating during the Beau Breedlove scandal that he had no choice but to quit.
Nkrumah, who was on the job only for a couple of weeks when the scandal went nuclear in 2009, had argued he was used to pass on falsehoods to the public and was criticized another time when he gave a reporter information that Adams’ staff did not want released. Nkrumah also sought damages because Adams misrepresented to a KATU reporter why Nkrumah left, blaming it on “stress.”
But Judge Pro Tem Tom Christ ruled in favor of a city motion seeking to toss the case. The city argued that neither Adams, nor his chief of staff, Tom Miller, had asked Nkrumah to lie. Nkrumah also admitted he never personally relayed false information about the mayor’s relationship with Breedlove.
According to a copy of the ruling obtained by the Mercury, Christ wrote, “The mayor and his chief of staff, Tom Miller, didn’t ask plaintiff to lie. Nor did they take any action against plaintiff for not lying. Plaintiff wasn’t punished for exercising—or refusing to breach—the public duty he identifies.”
The ruling says later: “In the end, what plaintiff found intolerable were the lies told to him, not any lies he was asked to tell others.”
The mayor “appreciates the careful consideration and findings of the court in the matter,” says Roy Kaufmann, Adams’ current spokesman.
Nkrumah’s attorney, Michael Hanlon, has not yet responded to a request for comment. UPDATE 4:46 PM: Hanlon wrote to say he hadn’t yet reached Nkrumah and that a statement would be issued once he did.
Even without a court trial, the documents already released in the case were slightly embarrassing for Adams, dredging up the Breedlove scandal once again—including the detailed state investigation that cleared him of wrongdoing—and also exposing some of the inner machinations his staff endured in the scandal’s aftermath.
In defense of Nkrumah, a 23-year veteran at the Oregonian when he took a buyout and joined Adams’ staff, I have heard more than a few people in town describe him as an utterly “honest guy.”
Stay tuned for updates.
I’m sure he’s honest, and he’s rightly pissed off to have been Adams’ mouthpiece when he was lying to everyone. That doesn’t mean his lawsuit had any merit.
Between the lawsuit and Bethany Storro, it’s looking like a bad day to be bullshit in this metro area.
@CC, actually just a bad day to be caught being bullshit. A subtle, but important difference.
And re: Nkrumah, he may be utterly honest, but a 23-year vet at the O who is surprised that Adams is dishonest and manipulative is beyond naive. He is either flat stupid, or, more kindly, just completely ignorant. His lawsuit DID deserve to fail.
And @ Denis Theriault: This isn’t the worst news piece you’ve written, but it’s a good example of the Merc’s slide into just rehashing news, instead of doing any real investigative reporting.
Matt Davis could be a jerk, but by god the man knew how to bulldog a story, something you and S.Mirk have yet to master.
I commend to you the following song by Tracy Chapman, performed on Sesame Street. It’s everything you should have learned in 1st-year J-school, dumbed-down for 8-year olds. Hopefully you can follow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewKg31Zfv3M
Beau Breedlove? Silly homo.
@rabblevox
Rehash? Denis broke this and scooped everybody in town. Think before you speak.
Scooped or leaked by Adams to the Mercury?
@ city hall access
I don’t think I need to define the word “scoop” to you, but I will say that your envy is delicious.
That’s funny – you do know what “breaking” means, right Rabblevox?
I think I have a fair idea of what your version of “scoop” is. Let me know if I am wrong here, the person who used to watch your kids (and was a reporter for you) gets a job in the Mayors office for burying a story in return for information.