Phil Knudsen, fired last month as Tacoma's

human resources director, has filed a wrongful termination claim

against the city.

He's seeking damages that could exceed five

million dollars. The city claims Knudsen ordered a subordinate to

adjust scoring on a civil service exam to help an employee to keep

her job.

He insists it was politically motivated payback for his

refusal to change his account of a meeting with city attorneys the

day before Police Chief David Brame fatally shot his wife and

killed himself. City Manager Jim Walton says the firing had nothing

to do with the Brame case.