UT econ profs sue fire, police unions

DOWNTOWN TOLEDO - Two University of Toledo economic professors Dr. David Black and Dr. Oleg Smirnov filed a defamation lawsuit Thursday against the Toledo fire and police unions.

Dr. Black, and associate professor, and Dr. Smirnov, and assistant professor, are claiming the Toledo Firefighters Local 92 union and Toledo Police Patrolman's Association have publicly libeled and slandered them.

The lawsuit outlines the two UT professors were exposed to public hatred, contempt, ridicule, shame and disgrace.

Fire and police union officials have disputed Toledo's 2009 budget deficit numbers, stating the numbers are not as bad as the professors submitted to the Finkbeiner administration earlier this year.

In early May, Local 92 president Capt. Jim Martin and his union posted a message on the hall's billboard, located on the corner of Erie and Washington street downtown. It read "Professor Black and Smirnov lose data used to project budget."

In late April, TPPA's fact finder subpoenaed research from Dr. Black and Dr. Smirnov.

Common Pleas Court Judge James Jensen set a July date to rule on the professors' request for a temporary restraining order.