Austin Miller, a former Fire Chief, has filed a lawsuit against Shawnee Township and its trustees, alleging violations of his constitutional rights. The complaint was lodged by Austin Miller in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on December 12, 2025, naming Shawnee Township and its trustees as defendants.
The case revolves around Miller’s suspension from his role as Fire Chief after he allegedly disclosed unlawful conduct by the township trustees. According to the complaint, Miller had been serving as the Fire Chief for Shawnee Township when he approved a training request for firefighter Brian Bailey. The training was relevant to potential hazards within their response area and was at no cost to the township. However, the trustees revoked Bailey’s authorization to attend due to his previous Workers’ Compensation claims. Upon informing Bailey of this decision, Miller faced retaliation from the trustees.
Miller accuses Trustees Ted Ciminillo, Clark Spieles, and Joe Recker of retaliatory actions that violated his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. He claims that following his disclosure about the revocation reason to Bailey, he received a written reprimand for unrelated reasons and was later suspended without due process. The complaint outlines how Defendants failed to follow proper procedures under Ohio law before suspending him indefinitely without pay or charges being formally presented until much later.
The lawsuit highlights several alleged procedural violations by Shawnee Township. These include not providing Miller with prior notice or an opportunity for a hearing before his suspension, which exceeded six months without any formal charges or hearings scheduled initially. Furthermore, it is claimed that Defendants acted with malice and indifference towards Miller’s federally protected rights by denying him due process.
Miller seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to reverse his suspension and prevent further deprivation of his rights. Additionally, he requests compensatory and punitive damages exceeding $75,000 for the alleged wrongful actions taken against him by Shawnee Township and its officials.
Representing Austin Miller are attorneys Dilton J Smith and J. Alan Smith from Cory, Meredith, Witter & Smith L.P.A., based in Lima, Ohio. The case is presided over in the Northern District of Ohio under Case ID 3:25-cv-02699.
Source: 325cv02699_Miller_v_Shawnee_Township_Complaint_Northern_District_Ohio.pdf
