POLITICS Ditzler and UAW end lawsuit

Ditzler agreed to pay the union $250 and not use its logo without permission.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A local labor union, still upset over what it said was unauthorized use of its logo in a political advertisement weeks ago, wanted to send a message to keep it from happening again.
The United Auto Workers filed a lawsuit Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court against David Ditzler and his campaign committee. Ditzler, an Austintown Township trustee, ran unsuccessfully earlier this month for county commissioner.
During a hearing Monday on the union's request for a temporary restraining order, an agreement was reached to settle the lawsuit without further court proceedings.
Ditzler will pay the union $250 in damages and has agreed that he will not use the union's logo in future campaign commercials without its permission.
During the campaign for the March 2 primary election, the UAW complained about a television commercial that showed Ditzler shaking hands with Bob Satterlee, an autoworker and chairman of the Austintown Township Board of Zoning Appeals, in front of a UAW logo.
The logo is outside the union's office, which is in the township's Westchester Drive building.
Wrong impression
The union complained that the commercial gave the impression that it supported Ditzler in the election, which it did not do. In fact, the UAW endorsed Ditzler's opponent, Anthony Traficanti, who won the election.
Ditzler said at the time that he never claimed to have been endorsed by the union.
Atty. Dennis Haines of Youngstown said the union wanted to sue, even though the election was a month ago and Ditzler lost.
"They were determined to send a message to others who might think they could use that logo for political purposes," Haines said. "It was a question of preserving their property rights."
Ditzler could not be reached to comment, but his attorney, David L. Engler, said all the issues are resolved.
"His campaign committee is seriously in debt," Engler said, noting that rather than incur expenses in a court battle, Ditzler opted to settle the matter.
bjackson@vindy.com