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YOUNGSTOWN -- Both sides of a federal civil rights lawsuit took part in a mediation conference last week in the case of a former Trumbull County Sheriff's Office corrections officer who claims his First Amendment rights were violated.
Joshua Guysinger was fired by Sheriff Paul Monroe for what the lawsuit claims was circulating an email questioning the county government's expenditures.
Lawyers for each side attended a mediation session Thursday before Magistrate Amanda Knapp. All parties were to appear in person, except the defendant's insurance representative, who was allowed to attend the mediation remotely.
Earlier in the week, Knapp met with attorneys for both sides to go over the ground rules for the potential settlement negotiations.
Guysinger, who gave a South Euclid address, filed the lawsuit in August 2022 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. It was assigned to U.S. Judge Benita Pearson, who has yet set a jury trial date.
Emails seeking comment about the mediation session were sent to attorneys on both sides -- Avery S. Friedman of Cleveland, representing Guysinger, and Amily A. Imbrogno of Cleveland, representing the defendants. They did not respond.
According to the lawsuit, Guysinger seeks damages from the county for his Oct. 22, 2021, firing. Guysinger claims the firing stemmed from action taken by his brother Jarrett, who also was a corrections officer who was fired Feb. 27, 2019.
According to the lawsuit, Jarrett Guysinger had filed his own wrongful termination lawsuit against the sheriff's office over a Family Medical Leave Act issue. During settlement negotiations in Jarrett Guysinger's lawsuit, it was claimed the sheriff's office offered more money on the condition that Joshua Guysinger resign his position.
The lawsuit states that separate settlement offers with increased values also were made to Joshua Guysinger, who was not connected to his brother's lawsuit, if he agreed to resign. Joshua Guysinger was appalled by the offer and says his complaints within the office "were not taken seriously," according to the lawsuit.
He then drafted an email to all employees, elected officials and department heads, saying he believed the county had grossly mismanaged county funds. The email was sent to about 725 people on Oct. 4, 2021.
The lawsuit states the next day, Joshua Guysinger was placed on administrative leave as disicpline for sending the email. A little more than two weeks later, he was notified of his firing in a letter written by Monroe.
The lawsuit claims that the firing was done as an act of retaliation.