Bill Grilliot was president of Morning Pride while his wife Mary was chief operating officer.
Taking the reins as president of what is now Honeywell First Responder Products is Dayton native Jeff Morris, Green said.
“We thank Bill and Mary Grilliot for their many years leading and growing the business and wish them the best in the future endeavors,” Green said.
Honeywell First Responder is based in Dayton. Morris, who also is president of Honeywell Electrical Safety, will be based in Bolingbrook, Ill. Morning Pride also is a brand name for first responder gear.
While Honeywell gave no reason for the leadership change, an attorney in Chicago said his client defeated Morning Pride in a recent legal action.
Attorney Daniel Herbert says his client, a retired Chicago firefighter, won a defamation lawsuit against Morning Pride in the Circuit Court of Cook County July 29.
According to a trial transcript, Judge Irwin Solganick awarded Michael Scianna, a retired Chicago Fire Department battalion chief, damages of $210,000 in Scianna’s suit against Mary Grilliot and Morning Pride.
Herbert contends that Mary Grilliot “submitted a series of complaints” against Scianna after Scianna was involved in a Chicago Fire Department decision that awarded Lion Apparel — a Dayton-based company and a Morning Pride competitor — a city contract for firefighter gear.
Based on what he said were Mary Grilliot’s complaints, the fire department investigated Scianna and cleared him of misconduct, Herbert said. Scianna sued Morning Pride for “libel and defamation,” Herbert said.
The Grilliots could not be reached for comment. Messages were left for Bill Grilliot’s assistant at Morning Pride.
Asked if Honeywell assisted in Morning Pride’s defense, Green said his company doesn’t discuss litigation. He added that there is “no connection” between the leadership change and the litigation.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or tgnau@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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