Lawsuits
In 1998 former investigator in the county public defender's office Geary M. Conley sued Cranmer, his colleague Larry Dunn, the Allegheny County Solicitor and the Acting Public Defender, alleging that he was fired in 1996 for political reasons. The Solicitor and the Acting Public Defender were replaced later (in 1996) as well.
In 2009, it was reported that Cranmer was expected to testify in a lawsuit against the county by former county recreation manager Mike Diehl. The lawsuit claimed that Cranmer fired Diehl for political reasons.
In February 2009 Cranmer testified at great length that Diehl was dismissed specifically for his mismanagement, in that county employees were living in county-owned homes at reduced rent rates or without paying any rent at all. (As officially reported by the office of the Allegheny County Controller.) An audit by the county controller found that the county was owed at least $39,000 in rental payments and late-payment penalties. Cranmer ordered that Diehl (a 25-year county employee) and the three employees who were living in the houses be dismissed as a result.
Despite Cranmer's testimony that his action was in no way related to Diehl’s political affiliation the jury awarded Diehl $144,000 in compensatory damages for emotional distress, embarrassment, harm to his reputation and humiliation.
Read more about this topic: Bob Cranmer