Police Sergeant Fired

Bentleyville, OH: (Apr-17-08) Police Sgt. Scott Gessic brought a lawsuit against the village of Bentleyville and new Mayor Leonard Spremulli, alleging that he was wrongfully terminated. The suit was filed in both federal and common pleas court, following Gessic's removal. Village records indicate that the Village Council voted 5-1 Sep. 19, 2007, to dismiss Gessic after an incident in which Gessic, was on patrol in a village police cruiser struck and injured a 59-year-old resident who was walking along the turn of a village road. Gessic also filed a suit in the US District Court, alleging that the firing had denied him his constitutional rights.

Officials said that in a recent move, the two sides decided to resolve the dispute and have entered into a settlement, in which Bentleyville, a tiny little village with 1,000 residents, one traffic signal, and no commercial district, agreed to pay Gessic $110,000, ending litigation. Village officials said that the village will pay $60,000 of that $110,000 total, with its insurance company paying $50,000. Additionally, the village will also pay $7,000 worth of attorneys' fees to its insurance company as part of the $17,000 worth of attorneys' fees the insurance company had already covered. [WKYC: VILLAGE OF BENTLEYVILLE SETTLES LAWSUIT FILED BY FORMER POLICE SERGEANT]

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Published on Apr-19-08