by Bruce Gietzen
WOODWAY - A judge granted a summary judgment dismissing all claims against the City of Woodway and its City Manager, Yost Zakhary, by a former city employee.
Karen O'Bric filed that suit for harassment and age discrimination after she was fired from her job managing the Carleen Bright Arboretum in Woodway.
Attorney Roy L Barrett, who represented Zakhary and the city, said "even after the production by the City of thousands of pages of records, and after hundreds of pages of deposition testimony, Karen O'Bric was not able to show that the City or Chief Zakhary had harassed or discriminated against her. There was no settlement and no money was paid to Ms. O'Bric."
Zakhary said in a statement he appreciated the support of his family, the City Council, Mayor Don Baker, and the staff and citizens of Woodway.
Baker was also pleased with the ruling, stating the City Council and staff could now "avoid further distraction from the primary mission which is to provide services and protection to our citizens".
O'Bric's husband, Mike, claimed in 2010 that Zakhary had misused city funds and mounted a letter-writing campaign to residents with complaints to try and oust him.
Woodway responded by spending thousands of dollars and hiring an independent investigator who determined O'Bric's allegations were unfounded.
