Lawsuits involving former councilman and city clerk settled

YOUNGSTOWN — The trial on civil lawsuits filed by an ex-city councilman and a former city council clerk is over before it started.

The details of a settlement reached on the defamation and wrongful termination suits weren’t available today, the day the trial involving former Councilman Artis Gillam Sr., D-1st, and ex-city Clerk Arlene Bahar was to begin.

The office of Maureen Sweeney, the Mahoning County Common Pleas judge who was to oversee the trial, said the matter was resolved, but the parties hadn’t filed an official settlement agreement.

Gillam confirmed the issue was resolved, but declined to disclose its details.

“From what my lawyer said, I’m satisfied” with the settlement, he said.

Ronald D. Yarwood, Gillam’s lawyer, and Gregory Gordillo, Bahar’s attorney, didn’t return telephone calls today seeking comment on the settlement.

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