Gardena council directs litigation, waives privilege and releases executive summary of investigation into councilmember conduct

Gardena — The Gardena City Council met in closed session Jan. 14 and took two formal steps: it directed the city to initiate litigation related to matters described in the closed session notice, and it voted to waive attorney‑client privilege to allow public disclosure of an executive summary of a special‑counsel human‑resources investigation concerning a councilmember.

Lawsuit direction

At the start of the meeting the city attorney read the closed session items, which included anticipated litigation under Government Code provisions cited on the record. The council voted unanimously (5‑0) to give direction to initiate litigation; the city attorney said the parties and other particulars would be disclosed when appropriate unless such disclosure would jeopardize service of process.

Waiver and executive summary

The council then considered a special‑counsel investigation of allegations about the conduct of Councilmember Wanda Love toward two city employees. Councilmember Love was recused from Item 2(b); the four other members voted 3‑1 to waive attorney‑client privilege and to direct the city attorney to read the executive summary prepared by special counsel Scott Tiedemann of LCW. Mayor Tasha Serta, Mayor Pro Tem Ronnie Tanaka and Councilmember Mark Henderson voted in favor; Councilmember Paulette Francis voted against; Councilmember Love recused herself from that vote.

What the investigation said (executive summary, read aloud)

The city retained outside counsel (identified in the record as Jeff Love) and special counsel (Scott Tiedemann, LCW) to investigate complaints of Councilmember Love’s conduct toward two employees and to consider facts from a prior inquiry concerning one employee. The executive summary, read into the public record by the city attorney, said investigators substantiated allegations that Councilmember Love criticized “employee 1” over the Willows wetland grant project and the demolition of the Chase…