Hearing date set in suit by profs against unions

5/27/2009

A July 21 hearing date has been set for a judge to hear testimony in a defamation lawsuit filed by two University of Toledo professors against Toledo s police and fire unions.

Lawyers for both parties met briefly with Lucas County Common Pleas Judge James Jensen Tuesday before the judge publicly announced the hearing date.

Oleg Smirnov and David Black filed a complaint last week against the Toledo Firefighters Union Local 92 and its president, Jim Martin, as well as the Toledo Police Patrolman s Association and its president, Dan Wagner.

The two professors contended that statements made by the men and published by the unions in regard to their work on the city s income tax projections were false. As part of the complaint, the professors asked for a temporary restraining order and injunctive relief.