SCRANTON - Allegations of gender discrimination, retaliation and intimidation were leveled against Schuylkill County and four county employees by four anonymous women, according to documents filed on March 16 in federal court.
County Commissioner and Chairman of the Commissioners George Halcovage, First Assistant County Solicitor and Risk Manager Glenn Roth, Human Resources representative Heidi Zula and County Administrator Gary Bender were named as defendants in the case. The ensuing outrage has protestors calling for Halcovage's resignation.
The four unnamed plaintiffs were all county employees. They accuse Halcovage of telling them that, in order to get raises or promotions, they had to change their political party to Republican. Halcovage also allegedly frequently sexually harassed the women through unwanted comments about their bodies and sexual activities. The other defendants in the case are accused of being aware of the commissioner's behavior but doing nothing to discipline or remedy it.
The commissioner is further accused of making comments that insinuated an affair in front of one of the plaintiff's spouses, allegedly leading to her divorce.
Several more instances of the commissioner's extensive alleged sexual harassment are outlined in the suit's 75 pages.
The defendants are sued with discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environment, aiding and abetting, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress and violation of a state privacy law.
The women are represented by Derek Smith Law Group PLLC of Philadelphia.