Mediation attempted in civil-rights suit against Youngstown

YOUNGSTOWN — A federal judge has ordered a mediation attempt in a lawsuit alleging civil-rights violations by city police.

U.S. District Court Judge Benita Y. Pearson referred the lawsuit filed by Desiree Johnson, 47, of Youngstown, to U.S. Magistrate William H. Baughman Jr. for a mediation conference at 10 a.m. April 4.

A jury trial is to begin April 21 if no settlement can be reached before then.

Johnson sued the city, former police Chief Jimmy F. Hughes, Lt. Kevin Mercer and Officers Patrick I. Mulligan and Malik Mostella in 2011.

In a Feb. 20 memorandum, Judge Pearson criticized the city “for a pattern of federal rights violations” by a police officer, “which appears to have been acquiesced to, or tolerated by,” the city.

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