Former 911 director’s wrongful termination case dismissed

On Thursday, Judge Laughrey dismissed Zim Schwartze’s wrongful termination case, as a settlement appears imminent.

Schwartze, the city’s former Emergency Management Director, sued Columbia, Chief Burton and City Manager Mike Matthes in 2014 for wrongful termination and breach of contract.

“The parties have agreed to settle this matter and are finalizing a settlement agreement,” Marjorie Lewis and Wally Bley, attorneys for Schwartze, wrote in court. Neither attorney responded to a request for comment.

Schwartze is currently the director at Springfield-Greene County 911 Emergency Communications. After 45 days, if one or both parties decide not to settle, the case can be re-opened. A trial was scheduled for Monday in Jefferson City, after the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals denied the city’s attempt to have the suit dismissed.