Officer, city reach settlement in descrimination suit

The lawsuit was filed in January 2009 against the city of Middletown, the Middletown Division of Police and Chief Greg Schwarber by Kim Robinson in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati.

The suit alleged Robinson, then 44, was passed up for promotion to sergeant five times in favor of younger male candidates despite passing the civil service exam and having no disciplinary history until March 2008. She also claimed she was twice reprimanded and suspended a day after she complained about not being promoted, according to court documents.

In the settlement, the city did not admit liability but awarded Robinson $205,000 — $64,150 of which was paid to her attorney — “to preclude litigation expense” and cover “disputed claims of retaliation and alleged personal injury,” according to court documents.........

In exchange, Robinson, who joined the city in 1988, agreed not to seek any future promotions with the city or Middletown police. She and her attorney, Leslie Ghiz, also are required to not discuss terms of the settlement, according to court documents.

The majority of the settlement was paid by a city insurance policy, and $75,000 was covered through the city’s general fund. Finance Director Russ Carolus said the city sets aside money every year in the general fund to cover such costs.

Law Director Les Landen said it was not appropriate for him to comment on the reasoning behind terms in the settlement, but said the city is satisfied with the outcome.

“It is settled and over,” he said.

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So many points to make, so little time.... 

 

-- So the MPD discriminated against Officer Robinson.  Not good, if true.  I don't know who makes the promotion decisions in the MPD but apparently the transgressions occurred over a period of time, probably under the leadership of our fearless councilman Becker and Chief Schwarber (currently practicing his pleas for a new safety levy).  So as our city continues hemorraging money, will people actually listen to what Becker/Schwarber have to say about our city's finances and the safety levy? I hope not.  (also, only in a union would you have a lawsuit against a department and the plaintiff continues to work in said department for the Chief and city she just sued)

 

-- Russ Carolus says the city has funds set aside every year for this situation.  What?  You have money set aside for lawsuits?  How much?  Maybe someone should go through the budget and pull out this nugget ...if it's there at all.  I suggest looking under "miscellaneous items".

 

-- Les Landen puts a bow on the  whole matter be saying "it's setlled and over". 

 

 

Well how nice.  There are some other employment issues going on within the city building that we would like to see "settled and over."