An ousted Milpitas city manager wants the former mayor to be penalized for failing to show up for a deposition prior to a court hearing.
Former City Manager Steve McHarris filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Milpitas in December 2023, accusing city officials of intimidation and unethical behavior — including from former Mayor Rich Tran and current Mayor Carmen Montano. As part of the pretrial process, witness depositions take place outside the court where they answer questions under oath. These depositions help attorneys prepare for what the witnesses will say in court.
However, Tran did not respond to several attempts by McHarris’ lawyer to question him. McHarris’ lawyer, Stephen Jaffe, filed a motion earlier this month requesting the court penalize Tran for obstructing the pretrial process…