Attorney Eugene M. Goldsmith has filed a Notice of Claim against the Patagonia Union High School District (PUHS), claiming that Gilbert Quiroga was wrongfully terminated as a bus driver after 36 years of driving for the school and serving as PUHS Safety Instructor, as well as instructor for other bus drivers.
The claim alleges that Quiroga made three separate complaints to PUHS employees regarding what he believed to be a theft of PUHS property by another PUHS employee, and that the PUHS administration sanctioned Quiroga for reporting the incident.
Quiroga’s suspicions of theft were confirmed when the situation was investigated by the Patagonia Marshal’s office. Although the administration ultimately decided not to pursue charges because of the amount involved, the employee, Antonio Velasquez, was subsequently terminated for other reasons.
Arizona statutes permit a suit against an employer when an employee is discharged after exposing a wrongdoing on the part of that employer. The Notice contends that Quiroga did not violate PUHS policy or fail to conform to work performance expectations, but was terminated because he blew the whistle on Velasquez’s actions.
The Notice states that Quiroga is asking to be compensated $100,000 for economic and emotional damages. In accordance with those statutes, the District has 60 days to respond before the suit goes to court.
