Retired judge to hear clerk suit against Clark County auditor

Clark County direct deposit dispute now involves Greene, Warren officials.


The Springfield News-Sun has provided ongoing coverage of the clash between the county auditor and clerk of courts.

A retired Greene County judge has been assigned to hear a case in which the county auditor has been accused of withholding the paychecks of Clark County Clerk of Courts Ron Vincent.

The Ohio Supreme Court has assigned retired Judge J. Timothy Campbell to the case.

Campbell was assigned after Clark County Common Pleas Court officials filed a motion Aug. 11 and recused themselves from the lawsuit and transferred the case to Administrative Judge Thomas Capper, citing a conflict of interest.

Later that month, Warren County Prosecutor David P. Fornshell and an assistant Warren County prosecutor were assigned to defend Federer.

Vincent filed a lawsuit Aug. 7 against Federer that demanded his paychecks, which he said have been withheld since January. Federer said Vincent is the only county employee who has refused to use direct deposit, and the lawsuit is a waste of taxpayer money.

Vincent’s checks have been held in an account within Clark County until Vincent provides the auditor with the information needed to transfer his money into a bank account electronically, according to the lawsuit.

Vincent hasn’t received a paycheck this year after refusing to accept his pay via direct deposit. His attorney, Kurtis G. Black, said in the lawsuit the auditor has withheld more than $21,000 of Vincent’s salary.

Federer established a policy in 2012 requiring all public employees be paid by direct deposit, but state law at the time excluded elected officials.

After the definition of a public official changed in September 2014, Federer gave Vincent until Dec. 31, 2014, to sign an agreement giving Federer the authority to deposit his salary into an account, according to court documents.

Vincent, who receives a Social Security check and a check from the Ohio Supreme Court via direct deposit, informed Federer that he still wanted to receive his county salary by a paper check. However, Federer refused to make an exception for Vincent, according to the lawsuit.

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