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| Thursday September 02, 2010 | Dailycall.com |
| 12/19/2009 7:33:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Yowell |
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Ex-professor sues Edison College
President, board named in complaint
BY NANCY BOWMAN
For the Daily Call
DAYTON - A former adjunct professor at Edison Community College in Piqua is suing the college, its board of directors and its president, Kenneth Yowell, claiming he lost his job in retaliation for videotaping a board meeting in April.
Charles Quincy Essinger of rural Troy filed the action Thursday in the United States Federal Court, Southern Ohio District.
Named as defendants are Yowell; the college in care of Richard Cordray, Ohio attorney general; the board of directors, as a group and individually; and John Doe agents, corporations and individuals yet to be identified.
Edison spokesman Jack Kramer was provided with a copy of the lawsuit Friday morning and asked for a comment on behalf of Yowell and the college. He did not provide a response.
Essinger seeks in excess of $25,000 in damages for each of a series of alleged violations of his constitutional right to assembly and the state Sunshine Law along with claims of libel, civil conspiracy, interference with contract, invasion of privacy and infliction of emotional distress.
He also seeks a court order barring those sued from taking any legal action against him as a result of the lawsuit.
In the suit, Essinger said he worked as an adjunct professor at Edison from fall 2008 to spring 2009. He claimed he received "high marks" and was "told he was doing a fine job" during an evaluation Dec. 16, 2008.
Following his hiring, Essinger said he began attending board meetings and videotaped portions of an April 15 meeting. During that meeting, he claims, Yowell said he was aware a video camera was in use. He allegedly said there was no policy against taping but added he'd prefer taping not occur, according to the suit.
Essinger further claims he met with college representatives in June to schedule fall courses he would teach, but later was told he was would not be rehired. He claims one representative told him he was not rehired due to his "presence at, and taping of the April 15 board meeting." His firing, Essinger claimed, was for "an illegal and damaging false reasons."
He also claims an e-mail allegedly written by Yowell in late July attacked his character and competence. The comment damaged his ability to find other work and maintain his respect among his peers and colleagues, Essinger claims.
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