The Progress-Index
PETERSBURG – A case between former city attorney Joseph Preston and Petersburg City Council is progressing to a jury trial after a federal judge ruled that there are valid questions over the “cause” used to terminate him.
If the jury sides with Preston, he will be entitled to six-months severance equal to $77,500. Trial was set this week for Oct. 18 and 19 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
On March 26, the court said that Preston could continue his case for Breach of Contract, and could bring his case for severance before a jury. The court also issued three summary judgements that ended two other claims against Petersburg, and one defamation claim against WTVR for its report on the meeting where he was fired in Sept. 2018.