4 women file suit alleging Schuylkill commissioner sexually harassed them
Four women have filed a 75-page federal lawsuit against Schuylkill County, Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr. and others for what they claim was longterm sexual harassment, including, in at least one case, sexual contact at the courthouse.
The women, all county employees who did not reveal their names in the lawsuit, alleged Halcovage engaged in “unwelcome and unwanted sexual comments and/ or demeaning and discriminatory sexist comments” as soon as he took office in 2012.
“As time progressed, the frequency and intensity of Halcovage’s comments intensified,” the complaint reads in part.
In their lawsuit filed Tuesday, the women asked for unspecified actual and punitive damages, including back pay, attorney fees and costs. They also demanded a jury trial of the case.
In addition to the county and Halcovage, the women also named County Administrator Gary R. Bender, Assistant County Solicitor Glenn T. Roth Jr., and former and current Human Resources Directors Doreen Kutzler and Heidi Zula as defendants.
Each plaintiff alleged she did not reveal her name “due to the extreme hardship such revelation of her identity would cause and the need to protect victims of sexual crime,” according to the lawsuit.
None of the defendants has been charged with any state or federal crime. The state attorney general’s office recently declined to charge Halcovage with any crimes.
Each plaintiff in the lawsuit, who were all county employees identified as Jane Doe, Jane Doe 2, Jane Doe 3 and Jane Doe 4, alleged Halcovage made unwelcome advances. In the case of the first woman, the advance turned into something worse, according to the lawsuit.
“Halcovage began kissing (Jane Doe) and ultimately (exposed himself ),” the lawsuit reads in part. “(Jane Doe) feeling emotionally overwhelmed and uncomfortable, due to Halcovage’s behavior, his substantial position within the county and within the community, and his position of authority over her, begrudgingly performed (a sex act on him).”
All four alleged they felt pressure not to make trouble at work.
“(They) felt compelled to maintain a good relationship with (Halcovage) to keep their jobs,” according to the lawsuit, which was filed on their behalf by Philadelphia lawyer Catherine W. Smith.
Other allegations made by the women against Halcovage included the following: Telling them to register as, and do political work for, Republicans if they wanted raises or promotions.
Making “sexually charged” comments, including ones about the freeze pops one of the women ate to prevent dehydration. “I like the way your mouth is around that,” was one such comment Halcovage made, the lawsuit reads in part.
Looking at the women in a sexually suggestive manner.
Making unwelcome comments about their appearances and clothes.
Concerning Jane Doe 2, saying she was “one of his girls” and implying they had a sexual relationship, thereby causing considerable friction between her and her female colleagues, and resulting in her divorce.
Concerning Jane Doe, “interjecting himself in (her) personal and work life making her feel threatened,” including visiting her home, calling her work phone for nonbusiness reasons (“often just to sing into the phone”) and joining the same gym where she worked out. “Halcovage’s behavior distressed her greatly,” the lawsuit reads in part.
Interfering with the staffing of the offices.
Failing to complete his county-mandated sexual harassment training.
Requiring the plaintiffs and other female employees to pose for photos with him having his arms around them. “These photos humiliated and caused (the four women) extreme distress,” the lawsuit reads in part.
Disrupting the work of the offices. Disobeying the directives of Sheriff Joseph G. Groody as to where he should park and disrupted his efforts to ensure the safety of women who complained about him.
The women also allege the county and Halcovage discriminated against them because they are women.
“(They) have exhibited a pattern and practice of not only harassment and discrimination but also hostile work environment and retaliation,” the lawsuit reads in part.
Plaintiffs also allege Bender and Roth knew of Halcovage’s actions and did nothing to stop them, thereby helping to create a hostile work environment.
The conduct of the defendants violated both state and federal laws on workplace discrimination and retaliation, according to the lawsuit.
Bender and Roth each declined Thursday to comment on the lawsuit.
“I can’t comment as to litigation matters,” Roth said.
Gerard J. Geiger, Stroudsburg, Halcovage’s lawyer, and Smith could not be reached Thursday for comment on the lawsuit.
The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Malachy E. Mannion, Scranton.