Vernon Fire Fighters Assn. v. City of Vernon

Appellants, petitioners below, seek reversal of the judgment of the superior court denying their petition for writ of administrative mandamus on the grounds of laches. They had prayed for reinstatement to their former positions and rank as fire fighters for the City of Vernon with full restoration of all benefits and salary, expungement of any reference to any disciplinary action, suspension or discharge from their personnel records, and attorney fees and costs. We affirm the judgment.

A recitation in some detail of the history of the legal machinations of the parties is necessary to an understanding of our conclusion.

Statement of the Case

Before the summer of 1978 petitioners-appellants were fire fighters working for the City of Vernon, California. They were also officers and members of the Vernon Fire Fighters Association, Local 2312, an affiliate of the International Association of Firefighters AFL/CIO (Union). Petitioner Dean White was vice-president, petitioner Ron Hedlund treasurer, and petitioner Ronald Beaver a director of the Union. Respondent City of Vernon was and is a municipal corporation and a general law city under the laws of California (Vernon or…