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Dover mayor files latest attempt to block former employees’ return

| March 15, 2022

NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (March 15, 2022) – While he faces 15 criminal counts in a grand jury indictment, Dover’s mayor is seeking a restraining order against the city in a separate legal matter.

Richard Homrighausen Friday asked the Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court to issue a temporary restraining order to prevent enforcement of the settlement between the city and three employees Homrighausen fired in December. Document_Motion for

Judge Michael Ernest has scheduled an oral hearing for both sides to argue their cases from 10 a.m. to noon April 11. “The parties shall be prepared to present all of the evidence and arguments at the oral hearing.”

Homrighausen has filed the complaint “pro se,” or on his own behalf without an attorney listed. He does not return our phone messages.

The settlement, approved by City Council last week, would return them to their city jobs, with back pay, while admitting Homrighausen fired them illegally.

In his filing, Homrighausen says it should be delayed until he gets proper legal representation, which he wants the city to pay for. He says if the settlement is allowed he will “continue to suffer irreparable harm.”

He says Law Director Doug O’Meara should be representing him but isn’t, and Homrighausen says he wouldn’t want him representing him anyway based on his past actions.

Homrighausen on Feb. 25 sued the city and O’Meara asking the court to force the city to pay his legal fees as he tries to stop the settlement.

O’Meara says the city will respond in court appropriately.

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