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Fired worker settles suit with engineer’s office
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Trumbull County Engineer David DeChristofaro has settled out of court with the second of three people he laid off on his first day in office in 2009.
Matt Dohy, son-in-law of former county engineer John Latell, settled his federal lawsuit against DeChristofaro for $315,000, according to a copy of the settlement agreement, signed by DeChristofaro and dated Nov. 9.
Dohy was working as a surveyor in the engineer’s office until Jan. 5, 2009, when DeChristofaro took office.
On that day, DeChristofaro also laid off Amanda Latell, John Latell’s daughter-in-law, who was working as a secretary; and Nicole Klingeman, a fiscal assistant.
All three filed lawsuits against DeChristofaro claiming wrongful termination. Amanda Latell earlier settled out of court for $175,000.
Klingeman’s lawsuit is pending.
DeChristofaro’s office issued a press release at the time he laid off Klingeman, Dohy and Amanda Latell, saying they were being let go because of lack of work and reduced revenue.
Atty. Charles Richards of Howland, however, who was representing DeChristofaro in the Klingeman lawsuit until October, filed a notice in August with the Ohio Personnel Board of Review saying DeChristofaro’s contention that Klingeman was let go because of lack of work or funds was “inapplicable.”
The filing also recommended that Klingeman get her job back and receive back pay dating to Jan. 5, 2009.
The Dohy settlement, handled for DeChristofaro by the firm of Mazanec, Raskin, Ryder & Keller of Cleveland, called for Dohy to receive $66,203 in a payroll check from the Trumbull County auditor’s office, minus payroll deductions; $121,000 to Dohy’s attorneys, the Gittes Law Group of Columbus; and $127,797 in damages to Dohy for emotional distress.
The agreement says Dohy agrees that he will not seek to be rehired at the county engineer’s office while DeChristofaro is county engineer.
DeChristofaro declined to comment on the settlement other than to confirm that one was reached with Dohy.
DeChristofaro said he has attempted to run the engineer’s office more efficiently since taking office, and one of the ways was by eliminating nonessential office personnel “based on the advice of my legal counsel.” DeChristofaro hired Atty. Enzo Cantalamessa of Warren in January 2009 to provide him with legal advice.
“Since taking office in January 2009, I have reduced my roster by nine employees. This has saved my office nearly $600,000 a year in personnel costs,” he said.
His department is using that savings as matching money for federal grants that allow the county to have $3 million in road and bridge projects every year, he said.
Jim Keating, county human resources director, was not available to indicate how much of the settlement will be paid by insurance.