In August 2016, plaintiff John Vidovich, a fire marshal for the city of Los Angeles, was removed from his position. Vidovich claimed that he was removed for reporting alleged illegal acts by the city’s Fire Protection Bureau, which he discovered in his job. Vidovich claimed that instead of facing the scandal, the city removed him from his position in exchange for approximately $350,000 in political contribution by the firefighters’ union, United Firefighters of Los Angeles, to various elected city officials, including the March 2017 re-election of Mayor Eric Garcetti. Vidovich sued the city of Los Angeles and the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City. He alleged that his termination was a retaliatory act. The city claimed that Vidovich was removed from his position because of alleged problems with his leadership skills. Defense counsel contended that Vidovich did not report misconduct by two Fire Protection Bureau inspectors until December 2015, even though there was alleged friction between him and the union before June 2015. Counsel also contended that by September 2015, the union had filed a claim of unfair labor practices against Vidovich. Counsel further contended that throughout 2015 and early 2016, the union complained that Vidovich was not responding to its requests that he meet and confer with the union before instituting changes to the terms and conditions of employment in the Fire Protection Bureau, as the collective bargaining agreements required. In addition, counsel contended that the union voted that it had no confidence in Vidovich’s continued leadership as fire marshal in March 2016. Defense counsel argued that the union asked a fire chief to remove Vidovich or face a smear campaign and that removing Vidovich to help the fire chief and his family avoid a smear campaign was not retaliation for whistleblowing., Vidovich had a 35-year career with the Los Angeles Fire Department. He sought recovery for emotional distress damages.