Magistrate dismisses auctioneer’s appeal of license suspension

YOUNGSTOWN

A Mahoning County Common Pleas Court magistrate has dismissed an auctioneer’s appeal of a state-imposed, one-year suspension of his auctioneer’s license.

Magistrate Timothy G. Welsh dismissed J. Paul Basinger’s appeal last week, saying the North Lima auctioneer failed to state any grounds for his appeal, nor did Basinger assert that the suspension was illegal and unsupported by reliable evidence.

In dismissing the appeal, Welsh also declined to stay the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s suspension of Basinger’s license.

Robert J. Boggs, ODA director, suspended Basinger’s license, effective Aug. 1, 2010, after concurring in a hearing officer’s conclusion that Basinger “engaged in fraud, bid-rigging and misrepresentation” in the Aug. 25, 2009, auction of a Warren house.