A motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a Los Angeles firefighter who claims he was fed dog food by his colleagues will be considered later this month, according to court papers obtained Thursday.
Tennie Pierce of Cerritos sued the city in Los Angeles Superior Court in November 2005, claiming he was mistreated by his colleagues and administrators did nothing to stop the hazing
Among other allegations, he claims other firefighters at the Westchester fire station fed him dog food in 2004.
In seeking to have the case dismissed, attorneys for the city claim Pierce was himself a prankster whose nickname was “Big Dog,” and that he once bragged about shaving the pubic hairs of a firefighter who had been strapped down.
The city also claims Pierce was among the firefighters who poured food over another firefighter while he was tied to a chair in October 2004.
Pierce joined the department in 1987 and has been on unpaid leave since Dec, 28, 2005.
In a hearing held Tuesday, attorneys for Pierce argued the motion should be denied because the city’s court papers were filed too late and that the Aug. 28 hearing does not comply with court rules because it is less than 30 days before the trial’s scheduled start on Sept.24.
Judge Mark V. Mooney denied Pierce’s motions, but told the firefighter’s lawyers they could raise their complaints about the timeliness of the city’s dismissal motion during the Aug.28 hearing.
The city also has filed a separate motion, set to be heard Wednesday, seeking dismissal of Pierce’s allegation within his lawsuit that he was retaliated against by supervisors for complaining about his alleged mistreatment.
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