CINCINNATI, Ohio (Legal Newsline) -- Prominent plaintiffs lawyer Stanley Chesley, who was disbarred in Kentucky in March, was appointed to the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission this week.
WCPO-TV in Cincinnati reported that the city council approved Chesley's 21-month appointment to the commission in an 8-0 vote Wednesday. He will serve as a commissioner until March 2015, according to the TV station.
Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, described as a "longtime supporter" of Chesley, made the nomination.
According to its website, the commission, which is made up of more than 20 community members, "mobilizes institutions and individuals to resolve diversity issues while developing mechanisms to ensure equitable treatment of all persons."
It serves as a "conduit for information" from and to various groups, including the mayor, city council and the city manager.
Chesley, following his disbarment, retired from practice in Ohio in April.
Ohio's "Master of Disaster" also stepped down from his position on the University of Cincinnati's Board of Trustees -- at the behest of his fellow trustees.
Chesley maintained he was not co-counsel for the plaintiffs in a controversial class action lawsuit over the diet drug fen-phen. He also said he was not aware that other attorneys were deceiving their clients. He argued he was simply brought in to negotiate the 2001 settlement.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at jessica@legalnewsline.com.