By Lawrence Budd
The Dayton Daily News
LEBANON, Ohio — With a five-day trial beckoning, a Warren County judge dismissed the lawsuit filed by Clearcreek Twp.'s fire chief accusing the local firefighters’ union of defamation and invasion of privacy.
Bernie Becker, fire chief since 1997, retired in July 2008 as trustees were to consider review of an internal investigation of complaints brought against him by members of the local union. In a lawsuit filed in October 2008 in Warren County Common Pleas Court, Becker claimed he had lost one job and been passed over for more than 90 others as a result of what he claimed were malicious claims by the union.
The union accused Becker of sexual harassment, creating a hostile work environment and abuse of power in a complaint made to township officials in February 2008.
On Feb. 24, Judge James Flannery ruled Becker failed to “show that the union entertained serious doubts about the truth of the allegations” in the complaint. The trial was set to begin on Monday, March 1.
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