CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Jeffrey Taborn, a former electrical inspector for the City of Chillicothe, has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio against the City of Chillicothe, Mayor Luke Feeney, City Engineer David Fishel, and Safety Director Jeffrey Carmen. Taborn claims that his first and 14th amendment rights were violated, he was wrongfully terminated, and he faced whistleblower retaliation.
According to court documents obtained by The Guardian, Taborn alleges that he was fired after repeatedly raising safety concerns regarding a family’s construction project that was violating building and zoning codes. He also said that he presented evidence of legal violations to the city’s HR director.
The lawsuit claims that Taborn posted a stop work order on a commercial building site owned by a prominent local family. The family, the filing states, did not submit the required paperwork or receive the necessary permits before starting construction.
An attorney for Taborn stated in the court filing that the city repeatedly ignored Taborn’s warnings about building and zoning issues that affected public safety. Following Taborn’s warning, City Engineer David Fishel, the suit says, issued a written reprimand against him for exercising his union rights and later launched an administrative investigation against him. He would eventually be fired from his position.
Taborn is suing for retaliation and wrongful termination and is seeking $25,000 in damages.
