FirstEnergy Shareholder Lawyers Cite Ex-Executives in Bribe Case

Proof at trial in a FirstEnergy Corp. shareholder’s derivative suit would likely have shown that a former CEO and vice president of the company were the individuals who arranged bribes to state lawmakers, two attorneys said in a sworn affidavit filed Wednesday in federal court in Ohio.

Former CEO Charles E. Jones and former Senior Vice President for External Affairs Michael J. Dowling apparently “devised and orchestrated FirstEnergy’s payments to public officials in exchange for favorable legislation and regulatory action,” the attorneys for the shareholder told the court. They said that they believe information obtained in discovery would have demonstrated ...