C-Falls man settles against Whitefish police

A Columbia Falls man has reached a settlement with the city of Whitefish after he sued for being fired with just cause.

Whitefish police chief Bill Dial confirmed the settlement on May 25. The deal was reached that morning and wasn’t yet official.

“Until that agreement is signed, we’re not able to make any comments on it,” Dial said.

Jeffrey Folsom filed the lawsuit against Whitefish and the Montana Public Employees Association, the union that represented him, in August 2014. He sought more than $785,000 in back pay and lost benefits, as well as punitive damages.

Folsom claimed that the city lacked just cause when he was fired in 2013 and that MPEA unfairly represented him in the alleged breach of a collective bargaining agreement.

He claimed he was fired in retaliation for his attempt to seek legal advice, according to the complaint. He alleged that fellow officers violated laws and rights for things such as recording officers’ conversations throughout the department.

The Whitefish Police Department denied those allegations. Dial said several state agencies looked into Folsom’s claims and deemed them unfounded.

Among the claims against the union, Folsom claimed that it acted with “deceitful” and even fraudulent conduct in handling his grievances against the police department.

MPEA denied the claims of misrepresentation but also alleged that the city of Whitefish did not have just cause in firing Folsom.

Dial said the city’s settlement did not involve a monetary payout. He added that he feels that both sides are satisfied with the deal.