Washington v. Cincinnati and Sheryl Long, Individually – Court of Appeals decision 8.13.26

Washington v. Cincinnati Appeals Court 8.13.26

This is a really tragic case. It could not be worse for the City Manager or the City. The decision of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals here in Cincinnati found very serious misconduct by City Manager Long that the City Council will have to deal with.

According to the decision, City Manager Long violated Chief Washington’s civil rights and more than likely defamed him. And on top of that, the Court ruled that Ms. Long did not have qualified immunity for those violations. WOW!

The city’s HR office should already be looking at the potential rule violations by the City Manager, and the City Manager should be recused from anything to do with it.

A question that I have is what kind of government leader disregards advice of the city’s own legal team, that specifically told her that Chief Washington was entitled to a hearing concerning his proposed termination, and then the “leader” turns around and requires that same legal team to defend her violations of civil rights and her possible defamation of Chief Washington?

She should have been required to pay for her own attorneys and should now be required to reimburse the city for all the costs incurred by the Solicitor’s Office in her personal defense.

The document I posted is from the website for the Brian Thomas Show on 55KRC. Today’s “Smithervent” was devoted to this case, and I believe the copy of the decision I have posted is from Christopher Smitherman. There are some very helpful highlights in the document that are worth reading, especially page 16.