Trial date set in Valvoda lawsuit

Back in April of this year, Wrangell resident Kipha Valvoda filed a civil suit against several past and present members of the Wrangell city government. Valvoda, in several letters to the editor to the Wrangell Sentinel, has argued that the city has used discriminatory hiring practices that have kept him out of jobs. His complaint to the court, filed on April 17, contends that borough officials were lax in their hiring practices, and that they held onto his resume for seven years but never gave him an interview. Valvoda is seeking $700,000 in compensation, which he says is equal to seven years' pay he has missed because of these alleged unfair hiring practices. He is also seeking a full-page ad in the Wrangell Sentinel, paid for by the defendants, apologizing for their actions, and to bar them and their immediate relatives from holding public office.

"It is my contention that the above named defendants colluded to void the rule of law of the city and borough of Wrangell," the complaint reads. "These safeguards were to keep individuals from profiteering in the service to the community by working on the city assembly ... I intend to expose the pattern of waste of tax monies, of salaries that are in excess of abilities or experience."

The defendants named in this litigation include former Mayor David Jack, Borough Manager Lisa Von Bargen, Capital Facilities Director Amber Al-Haddad, Assembly Member Julie Decker, Assembly Member Patty Gilbert, former Assembly Member Drew Larrabee, Mayor Steve Prysunka, and Public Works Director Rolland Howell. The City and Borough of Wrangell has also been named a defendant after making a motion to intervene. According to the Federal Rules of General Procedure, a party can make a motion to intervene in a case if they have a vested interest in a case, but were not originally named in it.

"Everyone I talk to is affraid [sic] to stand up against this swamp," Valvoda said in an email to the Sentinel. "To the tune that some of the swamp creatures are on the ballot. There was a sketchy move last week [prior to Sept. 23] where I was informed of a meeting, yet not given instructions as to represent, no phone number or time to appear, so the meeting took place without me, sounds sketchy."

According to court records on Sept. 23, there was a scheduling hearing for the case that Valvoda was not present for. Judge Kevin Miller set a trial call for Aug. 10, 2020, with the trial scheduled for Aug. 24, 2020. The city is being represented by attorney Joseph Levesque. While he could not be reached for comment directly, Von Bargen released a joint statement on behalf of the borough upon speaking with him.

"Thanks for the opportunity to comment on this case," she wrote in an email. "It's important for the Borough to provide information while not wanting to try this case in the press. As you know the Borough has been sued by a Wrangell resident alleging some type of conspiracy not to hire that person for a Borough job. The City believes that the complaint fails to state a claim for which relief can be granted and is vigorously defending the lawsuit.  The Borough attorney is preparing a Motion to Dismiss which will be filed in the near future. A copy of the Motion to Dismiss will be provided once it has been filed with the Wrangell Court. The Borough stands by its hiring practices."