Former driver files lawsuit against WRTA

YOUNGSTOWN -- Ricky D. Williams, 1513 Woodcrest Ave., has filed a lawsuit alleging the Western Reserve Transit Authority improperly fired him as a bus driver Nov. 19, 2002.
The lawsuit filed Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court asks for judgment in excess of $25,000. Williams, who had worked for WRTA since July 2, 1997, contends that WRTA lacked justification for the dismissal and that the dismissal was a breach of his contract.
James Ferraro, WRTA's executive director, said the WRTA board didn't believe it had dismissed him without just cause. He declined to comment further.
Williams' discharge letter says he was fired for interfering with a WRTA security officer at Federal Station on Nov. 19. No details were given in the letter.
The letter also stated that Williams was suspended for five days last July for hostile behavior and was given a final warning that "any further unacceptable behavior would result in termination."