City sues to recover $85K from former employee

The city of Huntington Beach is suing a former employee in hopes of recapturing more than $85,000 it accidentally overpaid her in retirement benefits.

The city filed suit against Nilda Brooks, a former building department employee, in December, City Atty. Jennifer McGrath said at the Monday City Council meeting.

According to the lawsuit, Brooks owes $85,302 to the city. After underpaying her for a year, the city accidentally started giving her $1,548 per month instead of $171, and only caught the error in early 2007.

City officials asked for the money back twice, but were not repaid, according to court documents.

Efforts to reach Brooks were unsuccessful.

— Michael Alexander