Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
Debra J. Byrd, a secretary in the city prosecutor’s office, has dismissed her civil lawsuit against the city, which alleged it discriminated against her because she is black and was diagnosed with cancer.
However, the dismissal entry filed Friday said she reserves the right to refile her complaint.
Her lawyer, Robert B. Kapitan of Broadview Heights, could not be reached to explain the reasons for the dismissal.
The city had asked Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to dismiss the city as a defendant without a trial, but court records don’t show any ruling by the judge on that request.
Had the judge granted the city’s dismissal request, the case against the city would have ended, said Anthony Farris, city law director.
There has been no settlement or agreement between Byrd and the city, he added.
Byrd’s lawsuit became an issue in then-City Prosecutor Jay Macejko’s unsuccessful March Democratic primary challenge to county Prosecutor Paul J. Gains, who was re-elected without opposition in November.
Mayor Charles Sammarone fired Macejko in April after a controversy over a racially sensitive text message about President Barack Obama and the city’s settlement of a federal religious discrimination lawsuit by Bassil Ally, an assistant city prosecutor who is a Muslim of Middle Eastern descent.
Comments
"Debra J. Byrd, a secretary in the city prosecutor’s office, has dismissed her civil lawsuit against the city, which alleged it discriminated against her because she is black and was diagnosed with cancer."
Always the race card for fast money.
I feel as if I've been discriminated against because I'm white! I've had to WORK my entire life...
Apparently no one can ever lose their job, or be reprimanded especially if they're a minority when they just can't do their job because they are inept.
I feel the comments on this thread have been unduly harsh.
As much as I can't stand playing the "race card" for bogus assertions, this woman has a right to have her case heard (in the future if it has merit.)
There are many procedural or strategic reasons why she may have dismissed her case at this point - but it is just baiting the negative response she got for the Vindy to even run this article.