Court sets trial date in civil case former law director filed against Greenfield
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
A court trial date was scheduled and attorneys discussed pending motions during a status hearing held
Friday in Highland County Common Pleas Court in a civil suit against the city of Greenfield, filed by its former law director.
Conrad Curren, who was terminated as the Greenfield Law Director in October 2008, filed the case in January alleging that members of council conspired together to seek his termination from the city. Curren is seeking nearly $40,000 in total damages.
Curren, who is represented by attorney Jon Hapner, alleges in five counts that former city manager Charles Bowman, current council member Harvey Everhart and former council members John Wagoner and Earlene Scott, "in concert with each other, and with malice of purpose, bad faith and in a wanton and reckless manner unlawfully conspired to terminate (Curren) from the office of law director."
He is seeking $14,000 in lost salary from the city and a total of $25,000 from Bowman, Everhart, Scott and Wagoner, collectively.
The defendants are being collectively represented by attorney Lawrence Barbiere. Barbiere was not in court Friday, and was represented by attorney Scott Sollmann, who will be assisting on the case.
Judge Dale Crawford, a visiting judge from Franklin County who is presiding over the case, asked where Barbiere was.
Sollmann said he was involved in depositions and was not available to be in court. Crawford said that because Barbiere is the counsel of record, he needs approval to not be present during hearings.
As the attorneys discussed a possible trial date, Crawford asked if Aug. 23 was a good date for everyone. Sollmann said that Barbiere had another trial and was not available that date.
"I don't like to double-book," Sollman said.
"Well I'm going to double-book," Crawford said.
However, the court also discussed alternative dates in September.
Curren is not asking for a jury demand, so the trial will take place before the judge.
Sollmann said the defense plans to file a motion for summary judgment, which would allow a determination to be made by a judge without going through a full trial.
Crawford ordered that all parties identify witnesses by April 29. It was also ordered that discovery be completed by June 17 and that dispositive motions - motions seeking the court to dispose of one or more claims - be filed by June 30.
The court also addressed a motion to strike filed by the defense. Of the three items addressed in the motion, Crawford overruled one, and then asked that the defense be more specific in the remaining issues.
"Your answers are typical," Crawford said. "You put every defense possible even though it doesn't have anything to do with this case."
Sollmann said that the defense would most likely request oral arguments on some matters.
Crawford said that oral arguments had to be formally requested, but that he would most likely grant the request.
Curren was in the courtroom along with Hapner, but the only defendant who was present during the hearing was Everhart.
A court trial date was scheduled and attorneys discussed pending motions during a status hearing held
Friday in Highland County Common Pleas Court in a civil suit against the city of Greenfield, filed by its former law director.
Conrad Curren, who was terminated as the Greenfield Law Director in October 2008, filed the case in January alleging that members of council conspired together to seek his termination from the city. Curren is seeking nearly $40,000 in total damages.
Curren, who is represented by attorney Jon Hapner, alleges in five counts that former city manager Charles Bowman, current council member Harvey Everhart and former council members John Wagoner and Earlene Scott, "in concert with each other, and with malice of purpose, bad faith and in a wanton and reckless manner unlawfully conspired to terminate (Curren) from the office of law director."
He is seeking $14,000 in lost salary from the city and a total of $25,000 from Bowman, Everhart, Scott and Wagoner, collectively.
The defendants are being collectively represented by attorney Lawrence Barbiere. Barbiere was not in court Friday, and was represented by attorney Scott Sollmann, who will be assisting on the case.
Judge Dale Crawford, a visiting judge from Franklin County who is presiding over the case, asked where Barbiere was.
Sollmann said he was involved in depositions and was not available to be in court. Crawford said that because Barbiere is the counsel of record, he needs approval to not be present during hearings.
As the attorneys discussed a possible trial date, Crawford asked if Aug. 23 was a good date for everyone. Sollmann said that Barbiere had another trial and was not available that date.
"I don't like to double-book," Sollman said.
"Well I'm going to double-book," Crawford said.
However, the court also discussed alternative dates in September.
Curren is not asking for a jury demand, so the trial will take place before the judge.
Sollmann said the defense plans to file a motion for summary judgment, which would allow a determination to be made by a judge without going through a full trial.
Crawford ordered that all parties identify witnesses by April 29. It was also ordered that discovery be completed by June 17 and that dispositive motions - motions seeking the court to dispose of one or more claims - be filed by June 30.
The court also addressed a motion to strike filed by the defense. Of the three items addressed in the motion, Crawford overruled one, and then asked that the defense be more specific in the remaining issues.
"Your answers are typical," Crawford said. "You put every defense possible even though it doesn't have anything to do with this case."
Sollmann said that the defense would most likely request oral arguments on some matters.
Crawford said that oral arguments had to be formally requested, but that he would most likely grant the request.
Curren was in the courtroom along with Hapner, but the only defendant who was present during the hearing was Everhart.
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