The interested, the affected and the merely curious are going to have to wait until the end of November to find out if an investigator's report on Atherton's ex-finance director, John Johns, will be released to the public.

Interim City Manager Wende Protzman fired Mr. Johns on Oct. 29 without stating the reason for his termination.

Mr. Johns, an employee with the town since 2001, was suspended over a hostile workplace complaint on Aug. 29, while an investigation was conducted. The investigation was concluded on Oct. 25.

On Tuesday, Nov. 6, San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Robert Foiles granted Mr. Johns a temporary restraining order blocking the release of the 35-page report by attorney Mary Topliff, the investigator hired by the town.

Mr. Johns said that Ms. Topliff's report contains "material misstatements of fact and omissions" and said that he was forced to act to protect his family's financial interests and his own professional reputation.

Attorneys for Mr. Johns and the town of Atherton will be back in court on Friday, Nov. 30, to argue over whether a preliminary injunction should be granted to prevent the report's disclosure.

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