A tentative settlement of $146,000 has been reached between the city of San Diego and its former Chief Operating Officer (COO) Eric Dargan, according to statements made by Dargan’s attorney, Michael Conger.
The proposed amount exceeds the three months of severance Dargan initially sought after his abrupt dismissal in February, which amounted to approximately $115,000, inclusive of benefits.
Conger noted that Dargan would not have pursued legal action against the city had it honored the severance terms outlined in the employment offer letter signed by both the former COO and Mayor Todd Gloria in 2022.
The City Attorney’s Office has refrained from commenting on the settlement, stating they are unable to address pending litigation matters.
The settlement is subject to approval from the City Council before being finalized, with a vote anticipated in the coming weeks.
This potential agreement arises months after Mayor Gloria first announced Dargan’s departure, framing it as a strategic decision to eliminate the COO position amid a significant budget deficit.
However, the narrative shifted when Dargan filed a discrimination lawsuit in late March, claiming the mayor had reneged on a promise to provide him with severance pay.
In a surprising turn, Gloria’s office later asserted that Dargan had been terminated
image source from：https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/05/28/san-diegos-ex-coo-gets-bigger-than-expected-payout/
