Suit referred to high court

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Trumbull County Engineer David DeChristofaro

Staff report

WARREN

Andrew Logan, administrative judge for Trumbull County Common Pleas Court, has referred a civil case filed against county Engineer David DeChristofaro to the Ohio Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court is likely to appoint a visiting judge from outside of Trumbull County within the month to handle the matter to avoid any conflict of interest, court officials said.

The suit, filed Feb. 14 by Vincent Davila Sr. of Niles, asks for DeChristofaro to be removed from office for misconduct.

The lawsuit, filed by the Chandra Law Firm LLC of Cleveland, says the misconduct involves letters, thank-you notes and Christmas cards produced at the county engineer’s office that DeChristofaro sent to precinct committee people and political supporters.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office and state ethics commission have agreed to investigate the matter at the request of county Prosecutor Dennis Watkins.

The random-assignment system used at the common pleas court originally assigned the case to Judge W. Wyatt McKay, who recused himself.