DOVER — The city's interim mayor and its suspended mayor have differing opinions about lawsuits brought by the latter over his dismissal of three city employees last year.
Richard Homrighausen, who is suspended from the office of mayor until a criminal case against him is resolved, has sued the city, its law director and the three employees he fired on Dec. 21. In two lawsuits and two appeals filed in Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court, he is seeking to stop the city from employing those three people who were reinstated in March by City Council.
in one of his first actions after being appointed interim mayor on May 13, Shane Gunnoe attempted to dismiss the suspended mayor’s lawsuits and appeals against the city.
In notices filed with the court on May 17, Law Director Douglas O'Meara wrote that Gunnoe dismissed the complaints filed by Homrighausen, who was suspended by a panel of three retired judges on May 4.
"Richard P. Homrighausen filed this action in his capacity as mayor and appointing authority of the City of Dover," O'Meara wrote. "Mr. Homrighausen has since been suspended from office and no longer serves as the mayor or appointing authority for the City of Dover."
In filings received by Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court on Thursday, Homrighausen asked Judge Michael Ernest to strike or dismiss the notices of dismissal filed by Gunnoe for lack of standing.
His memorandum in support of his request says that only the plaintiff may dismiss his own complaint.
"The...
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