Mennig v. City Council

In Mennig v. City Council (1978) 86 Cal.App.3d 341, the record reflected an ongoing embroglio between Mennig as police chief and members of the council. More importantly, individual council members testified in support of charges leveled against Mennig at a civil service hearing. The commission found most charges unsupported by substantial evidence. The city council then acted en banc to review the commission's action, and found grounds upon which to terminate Mennig. The appellate court found the council was personally involved and the likelihood of bias to be constitutionally intolerable. ( Id., at p. 351.)