Wednesday, July 21, 1999
Former MSD director suing city, county over job loss
BY DAN HORN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Thomas Quinn wants more than money from the city and county officials he claims forced him to resign as director of the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD).
He says he wants a public hearing to clear his name.
In a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday, Mr. Quinn said a hearing is the only way to repair the damage inflicted on his career by the many “false and stigmatizing statements” made about him.
“His professional reputation as an honest and trustworthy public employee has been severely impugned,” Mr. Quinn's lawsuit states. “His personal and professional reputations have remained under a cloud of suspicion.”
The lawsuit follows more than a year of controversy surrounding Mr. Quinn's tenure as director of the MSD, which is run jointly by Cincinnati and Hamilton County.
On the same day the lawsuit was filed, there were indications the criminal probe also may be close to a conclusion.
Clermont County Prosecutor Don White, who is overseeing the investigation, said he has sent a letter about the case to the judge, who appointed him special prosecutor. Mr. White would not discuss the contents of the letter and the judge, Arthur Ney, could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.
“There are no criminal charges against him,” said defense attorney Marc Mezibov. “And I do not anticipate any criminal charges.”
A criminal investigation began last year when prosecutors announced they were looking into allegations of improper waivers on sewer tap-in fees.
The investigation was launched by former Prosecutor Joseph Deters, now state treasurer.
The new prosecutor, Mike Allen, asked Mr. White to take over because some of Mr. Allen's relatives have worked with a consulting firm that did business with MSD.
Mr. Mezibov said his client has done nothing wrong and has been made a scapegoat by city and county officials.
The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, names City Manager John Shirey, County Administrator David Krings and county commissioners as defendants.
It also cites comments, attributed to those and other officials, made about Mr. Quinn prior to his resignation. Those comments include references to “questionable practices,” “troublesome” reports and “egregious” conduct.
Mr. Mezibov said a public hearing would finally allow Mr. Quinn to address those and other accusations. “They made it a practical impossibility for him to clear his name.”
Mr. Krings said he had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment on it. “Tom Quinn's been through some difficult times, and I'm not going to say anything pro or con at this time,” Mr. Krings said.
Although Mr. Quinn resigned, Mr. Mezibov said his client was forced out. He said Mr. Shirey told his client he would be fired the next day if he did not resign. Mr. Shirey could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Mr. Mezibov said Mr. Quinn has lost several job opportunities because of the city and county's handling of the matter.
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