Bell, Calif., official sues for back pay

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LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- The former city administrator of Bell, Calif., brought down in a pay scandal last year, is suing the city for breach of contract.

Robert Rizzo filed suit in Los Angeles Monday, demanding back wages to July 2010, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The City Council of the working-class community southeast of Los Angeles locked Rizzo out of his office in response to public outrage over disclosures he was collecting $800,000 in salary to oversee city operations.

The lawsuit said Rizzo's contract requires 90 days' notice to terminate it -- something Rizzo said he never received. The suit also says the city did not have grounds to fire him since he has yet to be convicted on a variety of charges stemming from his alleged misuse of public funds.