Trial of Johnson suit may wrap up this week Trial of Johnson suit may wrap up this week (June 18, 2003)

After beginning June 9 in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, a jury trial involving the director of Menlo Park's Onetta Harris Community Center was expected to end early this week.

Aaron Johnson claims the city fired him in 1997 for exercising his free speech and criticizing cutbacks to youth programs, while city officials say he was terminated for violating the city's sexual harassment policy. Mr. Johnson was accused in 1997 of putting his hand up a female colleague's skirt and later pleaded no contest to a charge of battery.

A state-appointed arbitrator later ruled that Mr. Johnson was wrongfully terminated, and he went back to his job in 1999.

Closing arguments in the jury trial were likely to occur June 17, City Attorney Bill McClure said.