The Cuyahoga Rough Writers Blog

Dimora's Influence In North Royalton? County Corruption Probe Spreads

         The city has been subpoenaed by a U.S. District Court grand jury to relinquish several documents that involve Mayor Robert A. Stefanik and Joseph O'Malley, second assistant prosecutor.
The subpoena relates to the ongoing FBI investigation into alleged Cuyahoga County corruption.  The subpoena asked for several items, including any and all documents pertaining to O'Malley's personnel file, as well as his application, references, reference letters and documents or electronic mailing about his hiring.                                                                     
         Stefanik's mayoral campaign finance records, prior to the election to present, also were requested.
        The subpoena also asked for communication between any North Royalton city employee and Commissioner Jimmy Dimora, Jason Lucarelli, Samuel Lucarelli, Vincent Russo, doing business as Vincore, 1-888-Ohio Comp, Minutemen Staffing and Doan Pyramid. 
         Stefanik appointed O'Malley, with approval from City Council, in February 2008. It was rumored shortly after Stefanik became mayor that O'Malley was in line for the job to pay back a favor -- Dimora had allegedly loaned money to Stefanik's campaign, then reportedly told Stefanik to give O'Malley the job. Stefanik denied that on Monday. 
        "There is no truth to that," he said. "They are doing this (requesting subpoenas) in a lot of cities. This is just not North Royalton and not just picking on me." The collected documents must be delivered by 9 a.m. Wednesday to the Carl B. Stokes U.S. Courthouse in downtown Cleveland.
        The overall investigation extended from Dimora and Cuyahoga County Auditor Frank Russo to such entities as 1-888-Ohio Comp, Minutemen Staffing, Vincent Russo and Doan Pyramid. The investigation crossed into 1-888-Ohio Comp, a workers' compensation firm that has ties to county employees as well as Russo's son, Vincent.
        The county has used the firm for its compensation claims since 2000. North Royalton, the school district and many other communities also recently began using that firm.
        Former Mayor Cathy J. Luks reportedly said she felt pressured to use the group as well. She then found herself challenged for her seat by a county employee, although she was re-elected.
James Lucarelli is president of 1-888-Ohio Comp and was a Dimora gift giver. His records were requested earlier.
        Samuel Lucarelli helps run Minute Men Human Resources Systems, which offers employer services, including temporary labor and payroll processing. The business includes 1-888-Ohio Comp. William Edwards with the U. S. Attorney Office said the agency could not comment on the grand jury matter.

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See Full Sun Star News Article

County Recorder Greene Continues O'Malley's Patronage Practice

When sitting judge Lillian Greene was handed the appointment of Cuyahoga County Recorder in June, she promiesed to "restore credibility" to a office that was marred by rampant patronage and the unethical leadership of Patrick O'Malley. (Cleveland.com)  Yet, news surfaced today that the State Of Ohio, not the Democrat Recorder Greene, will have to step in to cut out the irresponible patronage and governement waste.

(Plain Dealer) The state auditor is expected to report today that the Cuyahoga County Recorders Office has too many workers and needs to cut positions.

County Administrator James McCafferty, who reviewed a draft of the report, on Monday said Auditor Mary Taylor recommends eliminating 17 positions from an office that employs about 100 people.

Taylor declined to comment Monday, but has scheduled a news conference today in Cleveland.

County commissioners asked Taylor for the administrative audit in May, a week after then-Recorder Patrick O'Malley pleaded guilty to a federal obscenity charge and resigned.

In April, The Plain Dealer reported that O'Malley had given three dozen patronage jobs in 2007, hiring former mayors, the son and daughter of a judge and the wife of a councilman.

As of April, the newspaper also reported, his office employed 103 workers -- nearly twice as many employees as in the recorder's office in Franklin County, which has slightly fewer people than Cuyahoga County.

County recorders are responsible for the filing of real estate transfers and other county documents.

O'Malley could not be reached Monday for comment.

McCafferty and other county officials -- including current Recorder Lillian Greene -- were told of Taylor's findings earlier this month.

Greene declined to discuss the findings, but McCafferty said she already has cut some of workers she inherited. More workers could leave through the county's early retirement incentive package offered to employees next year.

"Her intent is not to put anybody out of work," McCafferty said.

Greene's chief deputy, John Kandah, said the recorder is committed to restoring the office's credibility.

Greene "doesn't believe in gray areas and playing politics," Kandah said.

Personnel costs have been the office's top expense since at least 2003. Salaries were more than $3.8 million this year. The 2009 county budget, which was adopted earlier this month, calls for reducing payroll to $3.1 million. But Cuyahoga's elected officials, such as the recorder, have the authority to outspend their budgets and occasionally do so.

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See Full Plain Dealer Article

Sutherland v. Peter Lawson Jones; Sutherland Draws Stark Differences

An already hotly contested race for Cuyahoga County commissioner got even more heated Wednesday as Debbie Sutherland, who is white, accused black incumbent Peter Lawson Jones of playing the race card.

The jab came during a debate at the City Club of Cleveland in response to an audience member who asked how the mayor of suburban Bay Village would lead such a diverse county.

"It doesn't matter if you are black, white, rich, poor, East Side, West Side -- we have got to work together to move this county forward," replied Sutherland, a Republican, who then added: "My opponent would like to [make this] about race and class, and it's not."

Jones, a Democrat, scolded Sutherland for the remark in his rebuttal.

"How dare you?" he said. "I have done nothing in this race to play on race and class."

After the debate, Sutherland accused Jones of planting someone at debates to ask her questions about diversity. Jones' response: "Give me a break."

The tone was much the same during their hourlong showdown.

Jones, who has held the job since 2002, focused largely on his efforts to create and retain jobs in the county. But Sutherland repeatedly scrutinized her opponent's character and questioned his leadership in the wake of a federal corruption probe of county government.

"Patronage, cronyism, lack of leadership, mismanagement -- and let's not forget the chauffeur and strip club manager," Sutherland said, rattling off a list of complaints.

The chauffeur dig involves the county car and driver Jones has used for county-related meetings. The strip club manager is Rosemary Vinci, a county employee and political ally of Auditor Frank Russo and Commissioner Jimmy Dimora, both focuses of the corruption probe.

Sutherland asked Jones several times during the debate to explain what he has done and would do to address patronage charges and concerns about the ongoing FBI investigation.

Jones never answered her. Instead, he emphasized his record of supporting county funding to create jobs and promote other economic development...

Each candidate borrowed a label from the rival party's presidential nominee.

Sutherland cast herself, much like Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, as the "change" candidate. Jones, alluding to Republican Sen. John McCain, called himself a maverick.

"I said 'no' to raising the sales tax to pay for the medical mart," Jones said, citing the first of two examples of his lone opposition votes on the county's three-member commission. "Then, when we talked about tearing down the Ameritrust Tower, I said 'no' to that."

Sutherland, this time doting on Republican vice presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin, won some hearty laughs after landing a quick rebuttal: "I may not know how to field-dress a moose," Sutherland said. "But I know a maverick when I see one -- and Peter's not it."

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See Full Plain Dealer Article

FBI Raids More County Offices, Judges Offices Raided

(Plain Dealer) The FBI searched the offices of two Cuyahoga County Common Pleas judges Tuesday night as part of the county corruption probe.

FBI Special Agent Scott Wilson confirmed federal agents searched the chambers of Judges Steven Terry and Bridget McCafferty between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Wilson would not disclose what the agents were looking for.

McCafferty said no one searched her office last night and has been doing hearings all morning. McCafferty said she knew nothing of the search until a reporter told her.

The searches at the Justice Center are related to the county corruption probe, Wilson said. FBI and IRS agents raided the homes and offices of county officials Jimmy Dimora, Frank Russo and Kevin Kelley in July.

It remained unclear how the judges became a part of the probe.

Federal agents are believed to be investigating whether Dimora, Russo and Kelley traded county contracts for work at their home. Projects under the microscope include the proposed juvenile detention center near East 93rd Street and building the Veterans Administration complex near University Circle, according to federal search warrants.

They are also investigating whether Kelley tried to influence traffic cases in Berea Municipal Court, according to court documents.

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See Full Plain Dealer Article

Hagan Admits To County In Crisis

(Plain Dealer) Cuyahoga County must reduce its general fund by 10 percent next year to make up for a growing deficit -- a figure that would reach $38 million by 2010 if left unchecked.

Department heads have been told to consider staff cuts -- either through buyouts, a hiring freeze or layoffs.

"We've got a crisis on our hands," Commissioner Tim Hagan told directors and elected officials at a meeting on Thursday. "We don't have the money in some cases to provide the services that we need to provide."

An $18 million deficit is forecast by the end of the year for the county's general fund, which pays for day-to-day operations of many offices.

The mounting problems trace to a weak local economy, officials said. As a result, revenue streams, including sales tax and real estate conveyance fees, continue to decline.

Property tax revenues are increasing slightly. But that money is needed to finance a new juvenile justice center and other construction projects.

County agencies that finish the year within budget will receive an 8 percent budget cut next year. Departments over-budget will get an 11.5 percent cut.

Staff cuts appear inevitable. It just depends which method officials choose. Commissioners will narrow the options on Sept. 11.

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See Full Plain Dealer Article

Commission President Jones Has Yet To Tell Dimora: “It’s Time To Go”

Commission President Jones Has Yet To Tell Dimora: “It’s Time To Go”

Wants To Let Dimora Pick His Own Successor

CLEVELAND – Peter Lawson Jones, the President of the Board of Cuyahoga County Commissioners, has taken no action to encourage his friend and political benefactor Jimmy Dimora to step down as County Commissioner.  “This inaction on the part of Board President Jones is a failure of leadership and a disservice to the people of this county, “ according to Republican Party of Cuyahoga County Chairman Rob Frost.

Unlike in the recent scandal involving then-Attorney General Marc Dann, when Dann’s fellow state Democratic leaders pressured him heavily to resign even though he had not been charged with or convicted of any crime, Cuyahoga County Democratic elected officials have refused to take similar action.  In both the Dann and Dimora situations, the respective criminal investigations are ongoing. “The excuse being heard is that the cases are different; while Dann admitted wrongdoing, Dimora has not,” reported Frost, who continued “The more telling similarity between Dimora and Dann is that the Democrats seem more concerned with the political fallout in each situation than with what best serves the public.”

Recent media accounts indicate that several prominent Democrat leaders have asked Democrat Governor Ted Strickland to urge Dimora to step down as party chairman.  However, there is every indication that neither these same Democrat party leaders nor Commissioner Jones have made similar requests to try and pressure Dimora to give up his Commissioner’s seat.  “The reason is pure party politics,” Frost says, “By waiting out the calendar, Jones and his fellow Democrat insiders can ensure that their party gets to pick Dimora’s replacement, rather than letting the people vote on a candidate this November.”  If Dimora were to resign as Commissioner today, the election to fill the unexpired term would take place this November 4^th; however, if Dimora resigns at a later date, the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party gets to appoint a successor to serve until 2010.  Dimora has expressed no intention of resigning as party chairman.

“By refusing to tell Commissioner Dimora that it’s time to go, Board President Peter Lawson Jones is putting the interests of the Democratic Party ahead of the interests of the citizens of Cuyahoga County,” Frost continued, concluding “In effect, Jones’ delay could allow Jimmy Dimora as Democratic Party Chairman to handpick his own successor as Commissioner.”

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See More RPCC Press Releases

County Corruption: Dimora, Juvenile Justice Center & Independence Excavating

The Plain Dealer has uncovered more details of misspent funds in the Cuyahoga County Government.  It is clear; the FBI is looking into the Juvenile Justice Center and Jimmy Dimora’s, as well as County Democrat’s role in this expensive project.  Yet, Jimmy Dimora is still able to cast his vote on major public works projects, including the Juvenile Justice Center. 

See RPCC Press Release on the Juvenile Justice Center

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(Plain Dealer) Cuyahoga County Commissioners celebrated as they signed a $2.75 million deal to buy land from Sunrise Land Co., a subsidiary of Forest City Enterprises, Inc. That deal ended a more than 14-year battle to find a home for a much-needed county juvenile detention center. There were lengthy speeches, applause and even jokes, according to a tape of that Feb. 29, 2000, meeting.

Commissioner Jane Campbell introduced her newest colleague, Jimmy Dimora, quipping that after "14 years of sturm und drang ... you come here and in one year it got fixed. Want to, like, enlighten us?"

"It's being Italian," Dimora wisecracked. "You make people an offer they can't refuse."

Everyone laughed.

But the deal really wasn't funny. Just seven months earlier, the county could have saved taxpayers more than $2 million by snatching up the property itself up before the land was sold to Sunrise...

When the county first started looking at the land at East 93rd Street and Quincy Avenue, the property was in foreclosure. During that time most of the property was ordered to be sold at a public auction.

But the county didn't bid on the land.

Instead, on July 13, 1999, Sunrise bought most of the land at a County Auditor's sale for about $400,000, then sold it back to the county within months for a more than 500 percent return on its investment.

Today, county officials are at a loss to explain why they weren't better stewards of the taxpayers' money in purchasing the property that former Mayor Michael White once called "the worst environmental hazard in the city" -- two years before he recommended it as a site for the juvenile center.

Ultimately, the county had to pay at least another $10 million to study and remove contaminated soil and other debris on the largest portion of the property.

That same property was in the news again last month, when federal agents raided the offices and homes of county officials, specifically seeking documents about the juvenile justice complex.

Commissioner Jimmy Dimora, who is being investigated by federal agents, is the only one of the three commissioners who signed off on the sale to be still in office. Auditor Frank Russo, whose home and office were raided by FBI and IRS agents, was serving his first elected term when the land was sold by his office.

Neither Dimora nor Russo responded to interview requests.

And now the $160 million juvenile justice complex is rising on that land at the corner of Quincy Avenue and East 93rd Street. The buildings there will be visited by everyone from suburban kids with traffic tickets to parents with custody disputes. It will also house the county's most dangerous delinquents...

The deal the county commissioners signed at their Feb. 29, 2000 meeting, amid applause and laughter, worked out to $170,807 an acre, only 19 days after Sunrise had bought the final parcels of the land.

When White first proposed the site in a letter, Dimora had argued against it.

"That isn't worth the paper it's written on," he said.

But after the agreement was signed, Dimora commended White for recommending the site and being "very helpful in putting this project together..." 

Before the purchase was finalized, though, contingencies had to be met, including an environmental assessment of the land.

As the county began its assessment, officials worried that Forest City's Sam Miller was growing impatient.

On June 14, four months after the purchase agreement was signed, Miller called county administrator Tom Hayes. "He stated that he was being pressured by his partners and needed to close escrow on or before June 30th," according to a memo Hayes wrote the commissioners. "After that date they would be compelled to consider other offers for the property."

Miller did not respond this week to a request for an interview. He let Monchein speak for the company.

On Aug. 23, the commissioners sealed the deal, paying Sunrise $2,750,000 for 16.1 acres of land after determining the property could be cleaned up for an estimated $3.5 million.

Sara Harper, a retired judge, sat on one of the site-selection committees as a representative of the NAACP. She was furious when the Quincy site surfaced because it was not one that committee members had visited or considered.

She filed a complaint in October 2000 with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, alleging that county officials had violated the Civil Rights Act when they approved construction of a juvenile facility on a chemically contaminated site.

The EPA referred the complaint to the U.S. Department of Justice, which finally decided in 2004 not to take action.

Meanwhile, the county discovered that the Quincy site clean-up was going to be a lot more complicated and expensive than commissioners originally thought.

Independence Excavating, which initially bid $3.8 million for the clean-up, found its costs soaring. It requested at least an additional $5.5 million between November 2003 and March 2004. Independence has continued to receive additional contracts for work there.

A county memo noted that "widespread PCB contamination was encountered despite US EPA certification . . . that the PCBs were confined to one, deep spot."

Finally in May 2006, the county received notice from the state indicating that the cleanup passed Ohio EPA muster. The property met the standards for commercial and industrial land use as well as certain restricted residential land uses. But there were certain restrictions, including "Residential uses are restricted to occupancy [of] residents 9 years of age or older for a duration not to exceed 9 years."

Bill Edwards, acting U.S. Attorney in Cleveland, refused to comment on the scope of the public corruption investigation regarding the juvenile justice complex. But if federal agents are digging into the Quincy land deal, it would make Sara Harper smile.

"This is a deal that should never have happened," she said.

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See Full Plain Dealer Article

Cuyahoga FBI Raids: What Does It Mean Nationally

The FBI/IRS Raids on Cuyahoga County Demoratic Officals will have an impact on the Presidentail Race and could be a major factor in determing the election. 

(New York Times) - A federal investigation of Democratic Party leaders in Cuyahoga County could pose problems for Barack Obama's campaign in Ohio, party insiders and political analysts say.

If the party's local campaign operation suffers, some Democrats said, it could cost Mr. Obama votes in a Democratic area where he must win overwhelmingly to offset Republican strength elsewhere in the state.

"There's no question that this is not helpful," said Peter Lawson Jones, a Democrat who serves on the three-member Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners with Jimmy Dimora, the chairman of the county Democratic Party, who is at the center of a federal inquiry.

But representatives of Mr. Obama's campaign in Ohio dismiss the idea that the events in Cuyahoga County will have any effect on the November election. They argue that Mr. Obama has built an effective organization in Ohio that does not need the county party's help.

"The Obama campaign has such a strong network of its own grass-roots people," said Dale Miller, a Democrat and Ohio state senator from Cleveland who is campaigning for Mr. Obama. "Even if the county Democratic Party operation is not as effective because of the investigation, it's not going to affect us very much."

On July 28, F.B.I. and I.R.S. agents raided the homes and offices of Mr. Dimora and Frank Russo, a Democrat who is the county auditor, an elected position. The offices of several construction companies and a consulting business owned by Mr. Russo's son were also searched.

Federal investigators sought documents regarding public construction projects, including a county administration building and a new juvenile court and jail, according to a federal search warrant released by James McCafferty, the Cuyahoga County administrator.

Agents also sought information about home remodeling projects at Mr. Dimora's and Mr. Russo's houses, county government hiring practices and "Cuyahoga County employees working on political party business during normal business hours," the search warrant said.

Both Mr. Dimora and Mr. Russo have declared their innocence. No charges have been filed.

"I know in my heart that I've done nothing wrong to warrant this kind of an investigation," Mr. Dimora said at a county commissioners' meeting after the raid. "I am absolutely confident that when the dust clears my good name and reputation will also be cleared."

No matter the result of the investigation, some Democrats worry that it is hurting their party's efforts to mobilize for the presidential election.

"People are skittish," Mr. Jones, the county commissioner, said. "When there's a federal investigation under way, friends and acquaintances scatter."

Cuyahoga County is the most populous and Democratic-leaning county in Ohio. In one Congressional district in the county, John Kerry won 81 percent of the vote in 2004. But even that large margin of victory could not overcome strong Republican majorities elsewhere in Ohio. President Bush won the state that year by about 118,000 votes out of 5.6 million cast.

"Kerry won big in Cuyahoga County, but it wasn't enough," said David B. Cohen, a political science professor at the University of Akron. "Which means Obama needs to win even bigger."

That may prove difficult with top leaders of the local Democratic Party under investigation. Over three decades in public office, Mr. Dimora has built a broad political coalition, with many allies working as ward leaders, City Council members and mayors across the county.

In June, Mr. Russo told The Plain Dealer of Cleveland that he used the county auditor's office to hire his friends and family members, who also serve as the core of his political organization. Through a spokeswoman, Mr. Russo declined to comment for this article.

"Both Jimmy and Frank have their loyal networks with hundreds of people who are beholden to them, who are on the public payroll," said Subodh Chandra, a former law director for the City of Cleveland and a part-time fund-raiser for Democratic candidates, including Mr. Obama. "Given that they're both under investigation, one would imagine they'd be distracted from the campaign."

Meanwhile, Republicans see the investigation as an opportunity to narrow the Democratic Party's traditionally large majorities in the area.

"The backbone of their operation is being taken out because so many of their volunteers are public officials and public employees," said Jim Trakas, the former chairman of the Cuyahoga County Republican Party, who is running against Representative Dennis J. Kucinich, a Democrat. "That will make it very difficult for them to campaign."

Given Mr. Bush's slim margins of victory in Ohio in the 2000 and 2004 elections, and polls showing that last month John McCain had cut Mr. Obama's six-point lead in Ohio to a statistical dead heat, even a small drop in the Democratic voter turnout in Cuyahoga County could have an impact statewide.

"This investigation could hamper voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts in the fall campaign because typically local parties are instrumental to those efforts," said John C. Green, a political science professor at the University of Akron. "Cuyahoga County is a very important element in the Democratic effort nationwide."
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See Full New York Times Article

Cuyahoga FBI Raids: Years Of Investigation

The FBI does not swing and miss.  The current investigation into public corruption in Cuyahoga County government most likely took years before the raids two weeks ago.  If the FBI has been investigation for years, public corruption inside the local Democratic Party and county officials was a reality long before the FBI even started to ask questions. 

How long did our region suffer because of the self-interest of the current public officials?  Will the public send a message this November, in the form of real leadership?

View "Winds of Change" 

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(Plain Delaer) Federal agents knew what to look for and where to find it during raids last week on Russo, the county auditor, and Dimora, a county commissioner and Democratic Party chief, and several contractors.

The details of how the investigation began and what it was based on may not come out for months -- if not years -- as investigators have to plow through thousands of boxes of paperwork taken in the raids. No criminal charges have been filed.

But former prosecutors and federal agents who have worked public corruption cases in the past -- and defense attorneys scrambling to answer grand jury subpoenas for their clients' records -- said the documents give a glimpse of how the investigation may have unfolded to this point.

They said the minute details found in records -- the note in Russo's office, pictures of Dimora with county worker Rosemary Vinci, gifts, campaign literature and casino chips -- show the investigation probably started years ago and included informants close to the men, some of whom probably recorded conversations.

It is impossible to know such details about the men's offices without someone who routinely goes in there, according to the former agents and defense attorneys in the case.

Many have wondered whether Patrick O'Malley, the former county recorder who was convicted of obscenity charges, helped authorities. His attorney, Ian Friedman, said O'Malley did not help the government in the Dimora-Russo probe.

Officials also said it is clear that agents followed Russo, Dimora, county employee J. Kevin Kelley and other employees for long periods of time. Agents sought records of workers who were driving Dimora around when they should have been on the job.

Agents also looked for records of Russo's employees handling his personal business during working hours...

The camera and the wiretaps would have needed monthly approval from the U.S. attorney general's office, and would have required agents to listen around the clock to any call they believed involved corruption.

In order to get approval for such devices, federal prosecutors must convince a judge there is no other way for them to get evidence of wrongdoing. They must show that undercover agents or informants cannot get close enough to the suspects.

"It's certainly conceivable of using electronic surveillance, such as bugging phones or using cameras," said Geoffrey Mearns, dean of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University. "Those are extremely valuable. But they are not easy to get."

A review of federal public corruption cases across the country in the past few years indicates jurors want to see and hear public officials on tape.

Last month, a federal jury convicted John Ford, a maverick Tennessee state senator who received hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments from contractors. Ford also was convicted last year in a separate investigation dubbed "Operation Tennessee Waltz" in which FBI agents set up a phony company that used bribes to gain state contracts.

The second conviction came shortly after jurors were allowed to review hidden FBI tapes of Ford bragging about how he took money in exchange for helping with a deal.

"Generally, jurors want to hear tapes," said Eli Richardson, the assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted Ford. "It's compelling."

The FBI also used wiretaps in "Operation Wrinkled Robe," which led to the convictions of two New Orleans judges who offered lower bonds in exchange for meals and favors from bail bondsmen.

Those cases, along with the Dimora-Russo probe, come at a time when the FBI has made public corruption a top priority.

"It does not matter if it is millions of dollars, or merely hundreds," FBI Director Robert Mueller said in a speech during the spring. "There is no level of acceptable corruption. The violation of trust is the same."

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See Full Plain Dealer Article

County Commissioners - Former Worker Sues For Sexual Harassment

As the FBI raid on the county continues to unfold, more news of alleged ethnical and criminal behavior rocks the County Commissioners.

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A senior Cuyahoga County worker is suing former county administrator Dennis Madden and the county commissioners in federal court, saying they discriminated against her because she is a woman and that Madden sexually harassed her repeatedly.

Nancy Donovan Farina, 49, filed the lawsuit today in U.S. District Court in Cleveland.

Madden or the commissioners could not immediately reached for comment.

Farina also accused Commissioner Tim Hagan of telling her that complaining about the harassment could cost her her job, according to the suit.

Farina is an administrator who works with county officials. She also claims in her lawsuit that the commissioners have diminished her role because of her complaints.

Madden left his county position this summer to work for Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., the Chicago-based company involved in Cleveland's medical mart effort. The company tapped Madden with the hopes that he could expedite the project.

Farina filed two sexual harassment complaints last year, one with the county's human resources department and the other with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.

In April 2007, Farina filed a complaint with the county's human resources department that Madden -- her boss -- acted inappropriately toward her...

On June 4, she filed allegations with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission against the Cuyahoga Board of County Commissioners, which appoints the administrator. Farina claimed she was the victim of sexual harassment and was discriminated against because she is a woman.

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See Full Plain Dealer Article