GLENDALE : Judge Defends His Dismissal of Suit

A Glendale Superior Court judge who dismissed a wrongful termination lawsuit against a company he owns stock in said Wednesday he erred in not disclosing his financial interest, but insisted it had no influence on his decision.

Judge Charles W. Stoll owns about $53,000 worth of stock in the Walt Disney Co., which he purchased several decades ago as part of an IRA account.

But when the case of former Disney employee Aprile Boettcher came before him, Stoll said he was unaware that the judicial canon required him to disclose the holding to attorneys in the case, and to disqualify himself from hearing the matter.

Stoll said he has always listed the stock on his Statement of Economic Interests, a public document filed with the state Fair Political Practices Commission, and he thought that was all that was required of him.

“It (the investment) has always been revealed; it has never been hidden,” he said.

“At the time I ruled in this case, I gave no thought to it, but I was in error and I acknowledge that.”

Boettcher, who was employed by Walt Disney Imagineering, a Disney subsidiary, sued the company last year after returning from a pregnancy leave.

She accused the company of violating the Family Leave Act, saying that when she returned to the firm her job had been eliminated and she was forced to do menial tasks as part of an effort to force her out.

Stoll said he dismissed the case because it had no merit.

Jan Tucker, a private investigator representing Boettcher, demanded that Stoll resign, saying a complaint may be filed against the judge with the state Commission on Judicial Performance.

Superior Court Judge S. James Otero, supervising judge for the North Central Judicial District, which includes Glendale, said Wednesday he would look into the accusations against Stoll and determine whether any disciplinary action is warranted.

But Stoll said calls for his resignation are “ridiculous.”

“I have a fine reputation as a judicial officer in my career,” he said.

“I made a mistake, but if somebody hasn’t made a mistake in their life, I’d like to meet them.”