City manager ordered to stand trial over alleged defamation

Moorpark City Manager Troy Brown has been ordered to stand trial over matters relating to the pandemic when Brown was a member of the board of a national association of city and county executives.

At issue is a claim that Brown, in his capacity as a board member of the International City/County Management Association, defamed the city manager of Port Huron, Michigan, over that official’s stance on COVID vaccines.

The case involves claims of government officials burning documents pertaining to the matter and the defendants refusing to answer questions and produce documents related to the plaintiff’s claims.

Port Huron’s top executive, James Freed, sued Brown and others on the board over allegations he was defamed when the board publicly censured Freed because he did not require his employees to take the COVID vaccine.

The ICMA, of which Brown was selected the 2020-21 president-elect, believed there was a vaccine mandate when in fact there was an option to test, according to Joe Turner, president of the American Association of Municipal Executives, of which Freed is a member.

Trial has been set for Oct. 29.

The board claimed Freed violated the organization’s code of ethics when he said in an email to employees that he would never force them to get the vaccine, Turner said.

The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration also attempted to fine Port Huron because of COVID protocols not being followed, until it was dismissed by that state’s attorney general.

It was then revealed, Turner said, that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration burned documents related to the investigation.

“This was a politically motivated campaign of personal destruction waged by Brown and others to destroy the career and reputation of Freed because he embarrassed the governor,” said Turner. “Instead of being lauded for defending the rights of employees and ensuring continuity of services to residents, (Freed) was shamefully persecuted by his professional association and peers.”

Turner also said Brown and others on the board refused to turn over documents to Freed’s legal team during the discovery period.

On April 25, 2023, a judge signed an order compelling Brown and others to comply with the process.

Reached by phone, Brown told the Moorpark Acorn he would not comment on the case. He also said the case has nothing to do with his position with the City of Moorpark.

Asked whether any city resources have been used in preparation for this matter, he said no. Brown also said no city resources will be used for any travel, lodging and the like related to the trial.