BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Fired City Manager Pat Ford has filed a lawsuit against the City of Bridgeport after being terminated in early April less than six months into his tenure.
The lawsuit was officially in Harrison County Circuit Court on Friday, which alleges that Ford was terminated in an attempt by the city to “hide acts of wrongdoing and waste from public disclosure.”
According to the lawsuit, Ford alleges that several members of Bridgeport City Council, including Mayor Andy Lang and Councilman Clayton Rice, pushed him to take actions and make purchases that benefitted their own personal gain and excluded him and members of the public from meetings where decisions were made on public business, including Ford’s employment.
The lawsuit claims that between October 2024 and April 2025, Ford was directed to do many “odd” things on behalf of the city, among them being asked repeatedly to “find a way to” purchase property from Mayor Lang on behalf of the city and to approve payments for a private citizen for car parts/damages “which were not caused by the City.” It also alleges that Ford was wrongfully terminated after he refused to do certain things that “did not sit well” with the former city manager that included attempts to close an internal investigation approved by the city in February due to “a personnel issue.”
The lawsuit also claims that “City employees were caught on camera removing banker’s boxes of procurement files” around the time of the internal investigation and that the city and Lang “have taken substantial steps to cover up/close the investigation—to effectively sweep the investigation under the rug.”
The investigation was canceled by the city prior to Ford’s removal.
Ford asks to be reinstated as city manager and compensated for fees and damages and for the city to be fined and Andy Lang to be removed as mayor.
Ford is demanding action for injunctive and monetary relief under the West Virginia Whistleblower Act, claiming wrongful discharge under the Harless Claim, and action for violation of the Open Meetings Act under W.Va. code § 6-9A-6.
The City of Bridgeport has not yet responded to our request for comment.
Story by Mike Nolting, WAJR