Eureka’s Deputy City Attorney Asserts He Was Fired Amid Ethics Disputes

A Deputy City Attorney who was fired earlier this month by Eureka’s City Manager is considering legal action, and asserts that the dismissal followed discussion of what he had identified as legal concerns to city leadership in the course of performing duties as a City Attorney. On the heels of former City Attorney Autumn Luna leaving the position in May, Eureka‘s new Deputy Attorney was poised to take over Luna‘s desk, but after being fired on June 6th, Curtis Davis is reflecting on the circumstances of his final days at City Hall.

Curtis Davis – a lawyer whose primary focus has been tackling civil rights matters and employment law on behalf of workers since he joined the California State Bar in 2018 – was hired as the City’s Deputy Attorney on January 16, 2025, and was terminated from the position on June 6.

Now, as a former employee of the City, Davis confirms that he has sought objective legal counsel, beyond landing on his own professional but admittedly biased opinion on the circumstances of his own termination.

As an experienced employment attorney, Davis says he takes his oath to the City and his oath as a lawyer very seriously, and clarified that he feels confident he was terminated “illegally”, citing Labor Code 1102.5 which offers protections for employees who have raised concerns related to misconduct. “I did the right thing. I fulfilled my oath,” Davis stated, adding, “my job is to represent the city’s best interests, even when that means challenging leadership.”

According to Davis, he did not see the termination coming, in part, because Davis said he had been told by City Manager Miles Slattery that he would ultimately be considered for the lead city attorney job, making the sudden termination more surprising. During an informal lunch meeting with Slatery in May, Davis explained that Slattery clearly told him, “that it was the council’s intention and his intention to appoint me as City Attorney.“

The City Attorney position is listed as an “at-will” position. According to the City of Eureka’s list of Personnel Rules and Regulations, an “at-will employee is one who serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority, has no property right in continued employment, and has no right to any pre- or post-disciplinary procedural due process or evidentiary appeal.” However, this city document also lists guidance that adheres to California’s superseding laws that protect employees who raise ethical concerns or other misconduct, including things that a government employee even “suspects” would amount to “misconduct” in the workplace. 

Although Davis was terminated by the City Manager within the probationary period for his position, the City’s Personnel Rules and Regulations document clarifies that it “governs and protects city officials officers, employees, temporary employees, or applicants for employment.”

Eureka City Manager Miles Slattery confirmed Davis’ termination by email, but due to it being a personnel matter, was unable to say more. Mayor Kim Bergel also confirmed that she was aware of the personnel matter, and was likewise unable to offer feedback.