Campbell man fired from AG’s office without cause

YOUNGSTOWN — An Ohio Unemployment Compensation Review Commission hearing officer ruled the state attorney general’s office fired a Campbell man “without just cause.”

The attorney general’s office had contested paying unemployment to Lonnie M. Jones, fired March 28 during the Marc Dann administration.

Jones worked as a claims account representative in the attorney general’s Youngstown office beginning Dec. 3, 2007, earning $31,678.40 annually. He began receiving his unemployment checks of about $300 a week today.

Nadine S. Pettiford, a review commission hearing officer, stated Jones was entitled to unemployment benefits.

The office fired Jones three days before his 120-day probation period in the job ended, claiming he failed to meet the minimum qualifications for the post. The attorney general’s office contended he didn’t deserve to receive unemployment checks because he was fired with cause during his probationary period.

Pettiford criticized the attorney general’s office in a four-page decision for not giving Jones a training manual when he was first hired as well as failing to be told of his job expectations or how to do the work.

Jones, 61, said he wants to return to the attorney general’s Youngstown office. He’s willing to take a different job, a pay cut and wants to work there for about a year and then retire.

The attorney general’s office is appealing the decision.

For the complete story, read Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.