YOUNGSTOWN A Mahoning County Common Pleas Court judge has found former Deputy Clerk of Courts Jennifer Ciccone in contempt of court for failing to pay a settlement amount in a civil case. Judge Maureen Sweeney ordered Ciccone to pay $4,000 to the plaintiff, Carol Lynne Morgan, and serve ten days in jail.

The court issued the Order on Contempt on Wednesday in connection with a lawsuit filed by Morgan against Ciccone, as the administrator for the estate of Andrew W. Rauzan, regarding a retainer that had been paid to Rauzan for legal services before his death.

The contempt finding stems from Ciccone's failure to follow a court order from August 28 when Judge Sweeney overruled Ciccone's objections to a Magistrate's decision and granted Morgan's motion to enforce a settlement agreement.

The August 28 order directed Ciccone to pay Morgan $3,500. The judge stated Ciccone should seek approval from the Probate Court for the payment or pay the amount personally. The payment was due within 30 days of the August filing.

Morgan subsequently filed a motion for an order to find Ciccone in contempt and for sanctions, alleging Ciccone failed to comply with the August 28 order. Morgan argued that Ciccone's refusal to honor the settlement agreement was deliberate. The settlement agreement, signed by both parties, stipulated that Ciccone, as the defendant, "shall pay Plaintiff the sum of $3,500.00".

The court scheduled a contempt hearing for Wednesday. Judge Sweeney’s order notes that neither Attorney Charles Strader nor Jennifer Ciccone appeared for the hearing, and that she failed to file a response to Morgan's motion.

Judge Sweeney found Ciccone in contempt and ordered her to pay $4,000 to Morgan by November 17. Ciccone was ordered to report to the Mahoning County Jail on November 21 at 9 a.m. to serve her ten-day sentence.

The court stated that Ciccone may purge her contempt by paying the full $4,000 amount to Morgan. Failure to follow the instructions, however, will result in a warrant for her arrest.

21 News left a message with Attorney Strader’s office seeking comment, and is still waiting for a reply

Jennifer Ciccone was fired from her position as Mahoning County Deputy Clerk of Courts on October 17, 2025. Her firing was determined by Clerk of Courts Michael Ciccone, who said her services were no longer needed.