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PENNSYLVANIA RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Defamation lawsuit: Dept. of Labor employee alleges union vice president made false statements in email

Lawsuits

PITTSBURGH – A Baden man is suing a New Jersey union official over allegations he sent false statements in a grievance.

John DuMont filed a complaint in November 2018 in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas against Sigmund Kozierachi alleging defamation. The defendant removed it to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on April 15.

According to the complaint, the plaintiff is employed by the U.S. Department of Labor in both the Pittsburgh and Baltimore offices and the defendant is the vice president of National Council of Field Labor Locals Local 644.

The suit states in September 2018, the defendant filed a grievance on behalf of an employee in the Baltimore Wage and Hour office that was emailed to seven administrators and employees of the federal government.

"The language of the grievance unequivocally, maliciously and falsely imputes to the plaintiff John DuMont, want of integrity in the conduct of his business, violations of his employer's rules and regulations and criminal conduct," the suit states. 

The plaintiff alleges the grievance "was intended to and did convey a degrading imputation and stated and inferred that plaintiff ... lacked honor and integrity, had violated his employer's work rules, was unfit for the position at which he was employed, had engaged in criminal conduct and was not a person to be relied upon...," the suit states.

The plaintiff is seeking a judgment of more than $35,000, attorney fees and court costs. The plaintiff is represented by John Linkosky of Carnegie.

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