HARRISBURG – A Harrisburg man and former state trooper alleges he was terminated from his job because of his military duties and is seeking reinstatement to his position.
Shawn Sutter filed a complaint on Dec. 18 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania against Pennsylvania State Police citing the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff is a reservist in the U.S. Air Force, Pennsylvania National Guard and was employed by the defendant as a state trooper assigned in York. The plaintiff alleges he provided the defendant with a written notice of when he was required to attend military duties. He alleges he was terminated Sept. 16, 2016, after his 10th hour of military duty without good cause.
The plaintiff holds the Pennsylvania State Police responsible because the defendant allegedly removed plaintiff from his position for exercising his rights provided in the USERRA.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks order the defendant to restore plaintiff to his former position with the salary, position and benefits of employment; compensatory damages; liquidated damages; court costs; and any further relief the court grants. He is represented by Gerald J. Williams and Beth G. Cole of Williams Cedar LLC in Philadelphia.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania case number 1:17-cv-02318-JEJ