In May 2010, plaintiff Mark Uffer, an administrative officer for the county of San Bernardino, was separated from his job, which he had for five years, by board action in closed session. He claimed that there was not a valid reason for his termination other than retaliation of his whistleblowing on corruption. Uffer sued the county of San Bernardino for retaliation and wrongful termination. Plaintiff’s counsel asserted that Uffer was fired for cooperating with state and local prosecutors in a corruption probe regarding the county’s $102 million legal settlement with Rancho Cucamonga developer Colonies Partners LP in November 2006. Uffer alleged that he provided information to law enforcement officials on the former assessor and supervisor, as well as the former supervisor’s chief of staff. He believed that the information he provided led to the guilty plea of one county official and the arrest of several other officials. Thus, he claimed that the county terminated his employment based on his whistleblowing actions. Defense counsel contended that Uffer was termination simply because county officials wanted to have a change in leadership. The decision was made independent of any claimed whistleblowing activities, stated defense counsel., Uffer claimed that since his firing, he has been working as a CEO at a hospital. However, according to plaintiff’s counsel, the hospital is for sale and Uffer’s job is in danger. Uffer originally sought recovery of damages up to $15 million, plus recovery of attorney’s fees and costs.