MAHONING CO. Cleveland woman sues board for benefits

The woman says she is owed over $80,000 plus benefits.
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Cleveland woman, fired and then rehired by the Mahoning County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, is suing the county for back pay and benefits.
In a lawsuit filed this week in common pleas court, Judith Sweeney says the board owes her $71,068.52 in back wages and $10,868 as reimbursement for health insurance premiums she paid out of her pocket while she was off the job.
Sweeney's suit also says she is owed 120 hours of vacation leave, 18.75 hours of sick leave, eight personal days and a contribution toward her public employees' retirement system benefits.
Lawrence Duck, board superintendent, said the board's attorneys have been negotiating with Sweeney's lawyer, Timothy Piatt of Canton, to settle the matter.
The suit says Sweeney was fired from her job as a habilitation specialist Jan. 28, 2000, but does not say why she was fired.
She had worked for the board since Dec. 16, 1985.
Duck said she was fired for not following board policies related to client care.
In June 2001, the State Personnel Board of Review ruled Sweeney should not have been fired and changed her punishment to a 90-day suspension, effective on the day she was fired.
The suit says that Sweeney was reinstated to her job in July but that the board has refused to pay her back pay or reimburse her for the insurance premiums she paid herself.
Piatt agreed that he is negotiating a settlement with the board, though nothing has been finalized. If a settlement is reached, the suit will be dismissed.
bjackson@vindy.com