John E. Harms Jr. and Associates, a Pasadena engineering firm that developed marquee projects in the county for more than half a century, filed for bankruptcy last week after abruptly dismissing its 40 remaining workers.

Dianne Netherland, the company's chief financial officer, said most of the employees worked in the firm's Pasadena office at 90 Ritchie Highway. About 10 workers reported to the company's Frederick and Easton offices.

Harms filed for Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy after exhausting alternatives including trying to find a buyer, searching for other sources of cash and "tightening up controls...