State Ex Rel Cranford v. Cleveland

Submitted July 20, 2004 {1} Appellant, Eugene Cranford Jr., was employed by appellee city of Cleveland as the secretary of the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Board of Building Standards and Appeals. After receiving reports of Cranford's offensive conduct towards women while performing his duties, appellee Cleveland City Planning Commission Director Chris Ronayne conducted a predisciplinary conference on July 22, 2003. Cranford attended the conference with his attorney. During the conference, Cranford admitted that he had sent certain improper e-mails. Ronayne concluded that ""statements of the female charging parties, as well as the contemporaneous e-mails, support the conclusion that [Cranford's] actions are unwelcome, offensive and highly inappropriate for a representative of the City of Cleveland."" {2} By letter dated August 25, 2003, Ronayne terminated Cranford's employment with Cleveland. On August 28, 2003, Cranford appealed the decision to the Cleveland Civil Service Commission.