Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Mike Stanton
Journal Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Fired Providence tax collector Robert Ceprano has filed a $10-million claim against the city.

Ceprano's firing last month by the administration of Mayor David Cicilline was controversial, because the tax collector had been involved in efforts to force the mayor's brother to make good on a $75,000 bad check written on behalf of a delinquent taxpayer.

The mayor, who said that Ceprano was one of many people to make errors in judgment in agreeing to accept the check in the first place, said that Ceprano was being fired for not running a more-efficient office and refusing to make changes requested by his boss, Finance Director Bruce Miller. Ceprano was terminated on Jan. 29, following an independent audit ordered by the mayor after the Journal first reported last fall about the $75,000 check from John Cicilline.

Today, Artin H. Coloian, Ceprano's lawyer, filed a letter with the Providence city clerk notifying the city of his intent to sue for wrongful termination unless the city agrees to pay Ceprano $10 million. The notice is a step that must be taken before a formal lawsuit is filed.

In the letter, Coloian accuses city officials of engaging in ``a public campaign of defamation and slander'' against Ceprano, of preventing him from performing his lawful duties as tax collector and of instructing Ceprano to violate the law, an allusion to allegations that mayoral aides told him to issue tax breaks to political friends and supporters of the mayor.

As a result, Coloian writes, Ceprano has suffered emotional distress and damage to his professional reputation.

"Although we have yet to receive the documents in question, it is the policy of the Law Department not to comment on pending litigation," said Karen Southern, the mayor's spokeswoman, in a statement. "I would reiterate, however, that the City Finance Director's decision to remove Mr. Ceprano was based purely on his failure to initiate reforms in the Tax Collector's Office that were fully detailed in the audit report."

An earlier version of this posting contained a headline that wrongly said Ceprano had sued the city. He has filed a claim, which is a step on the way to suing, but is not a lawsuit.

 Tags  Cicilline Providence

Comments

Miss Priss said:

Miss Priss thinks it was a stupid move on David's part to fire Ceprano. Ceprano will win this lawsuit walking away and the taxpayers of La Prov will be left holding the bag to the tune of, oh, probably $1,000,000.

Link | February 24, 2009 8:15 PM
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Mr.Scituate said:

ceprano should go to jail for his actions

Link | October 15, 2009 7:57 AM
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