Damages sought in suit against Youngstown, ex-director

YOUNGSTOWN — A park and recreation commission employee is suing the city and the agency’s former director, accusing him of exposing himself to her and other inappropriate sexual conduct at least six times while riding in a city vehicle.

Park and recreation commissioners had met behind closed doors in May 2007 to discuss a disciplinary matter after Joseph R. McRae’s abrupt retirement as department director.

Tiffany Chavers, the commission’s administrative assistant, filed the lawsuit Friday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court seeking at least $75,000 in damages and legal fees.

In the lawsuit, Bruce B. Elfvin of Cleveland, Chavers’ attorney, wrote that the city’s “failure to act” regarding McRae’s “wrongful acts” created “an unsafe and sexually hostile work environment” for his client.

Read more in Tuesday’s Vindicator and on Vindy.com