The former film commissioner for the state of Colorado filed a lawsuit against the state, alleging he was wrongfully terminated last year.

Donald Zuckerman was fired from his position as Colorado Film Commissioner at the Office of Economic Development and International Trade in September. The lawsuit, filed June 10, alleges Zuckerman was fired due to his age and was defamed by several statements made by OEDIT’s executive director regarding his termination.

OEDIT is a state agency that supports business growth in Colorado. Under its purview is the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media, which promotes the growth of the film industry in the state.

Zuckerman, 80, was instrumental in bringing the Sundance Film Festival to Boulder. Zuckerman told The Denver Gazette earlier this year that he believes he was “targeted for erasure” by Eve Lieberman, the executive director of OEDIT.

His firing came after he supposedly yelled at a co-worker, something Zuckerman said never happened. According to the wrongful termination lawsuit, Lieberman put Zuckerman on a performance improvement plan about two and a half years before his termination, which was quickly rescinded after Zuckerman refuted the claims in the PIP.

Zuckerman also reported an accounting error in April 2023 which miscredited nearly $750,000 to the film office account of the OEDIT, the lawsuit said. Zuckerman alleges he was later blamed for the accounting error, even though he claims he reported it in good faith and pushed for transparency regarding the error.

Lieberman also allegedly made several discriminatory comments to
Zuckerman regarding his age, including repeatedly asking him when he planned to retire, according to the lawsuit.

When Zuckerman was informed of his termination, he was told it was due to him yelling at a co-worker, which he denied ever having done. The lawsuit said he was not told who he allegedly yelled at and was terminated a few days later after he refused to resign.

Zuckerman told The Denver Gazette that he declined to resign because he did nothing wrong.

“And I said, ‘Well, I’m not resigning,’” he said. “Resigning means: ‘Oh, I’m guilty of something.’ And I wasn’t guilty.”

Zuckerman also alleged in the lawsuit that he was defamed by Lieberman after his termination in emails sent to employees of OEDIT, which he said implied he was fired for an “egregious” act and suggested to third parties that Zuckerman had engaged in serious misconduct, including conduct suggestive of sexual impropriety.

Zuckerman said he is not after money, apart from his legal fees, and instead wants an apology.

An OEDIT spokesperson told The Denver Gazette earlier this year when Zuckerman announced his intent to file suit that it does not discuss personnel issues in order to protect all parties.

“OEDIT is committed to fostering a safe and healthy workplace for all while upholding workplace policies and the law,” the statement said.

OEDIT did not respond to an emailed request from The Denver Gazette for comment about the lawsuit Wednesday.