The director of Ohio's state funeral board has filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit against a board member appointed by Governor John Kasich, alleging sexist, threatening and retaliatory behavior and seeking damages.
It's the latest turn in a feud between director Vanessa Niekamp and Tommy Taneff, a member of the Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors that regulates funeral homes and directors. Taneff called an unsuccessful vote in October to suspend Niekamp, alleging she altered public records and practiced law without authorization. Taneff later filed disciplinary action against Niekamp at the Ohio Supreme Court over the law practice allegations. He was in court today and unavailable for comment. Niekamp's lawyer is former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann, a Democrat forced to resign in 2008.