The federal age and race discrimination case of Abe Bailey vs. Regional Counsel has been decided by Judge Joan Lenard with a resounding victory for RC3.
The case pitted two well known and respected attorneys- Abe Bailey and Gene Zenobi- against each other after Zenobi, the second appointed Regional Counsel for the 3rd Region of Florida (Motto: "We also do cases in the Keys and we bet you didn't know that") first demoted Bailey and then fired him.
The case raised troubling allegations against Gene Zenobi, whose tenure as head of RC3 has been magnificent, bringing a steady hand to a once troubled office. To be accused of age and race discrimination, no matter how unwarranted, is a difficult cross to bear.
Zenobi was undoubtedly thrilled to read Judge Joan Leonard's forty plus page order issued Thursday, which exonerated him and his office on every count.
Bailey on the other hand must be dismayed to see the court accept the defense pleadings and contentions that his work as an assistant regional counsel was insufficient and ineffective to the point he merited being fired.
This was a slam dunk win for the defense in every way.