The city’s civil lawsuit against former airports manager Tracy Means was dismissed today by a judge who found that City Attorney Mike Aguirre failed to prove Means knowingly steered contracts to companies in which she or friends were financially interested.
Means was forced from her job as the city’s Airports Division director by City Manager Lamont Ewell in 2005 while under investigation for contracting with companies affiliated with Airport Business Solutions for amounts above her authority.
An official with ABS had been alleged to be a longtime business partner of Means. Aguirre sued Means, the company and its official in 2005. In June, the company and the employee agreed to settle with the city for $70,000.
Judge Joan Lewis said the city did not have sufficient evidence to show that Means misused her position to guide contracts to ABS or tried to conceal that alleged behavior.
“The Court has reviewed the evidence cited and concludes it does not support the assertion urged by the City,” the judge wrote in her opinion.
Deputy City Attorney Kim Harris said the city plans to appeal the case.