PITTSBURGH — The former Westmoreland County Prison warden is accusing a county commissioner of harassment and retaliation over his refusal to make her political hires.
John Walton filed a complaint July 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania against Westmoreland County and its corrections commissioner Gina Cerilli, alleging violation of the First and Fourteenth amendments, sex discrimination, harassment, retaliation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Walton, who served as the warden of the Westmoreland County Prison for more than 17 years, alleges in his complaint that he was forced to resign and retire in November of 2020, because of "relentless and baseless harassment, discrimination and retaliation" from Commissioner Cerilli.
Specifically, Walton alleges that Cerilli "embarked on a never ending campaign of discrimination, retaliation and character assassination" against him over his refusal to follow her instructions to make "discriminatory political hires and promotions."
Walton claims Cerilli's "proposed hiring practices" constituted discrimination against minorities and females. He further claims Cerilli "weaponized" the county's human resources department with false complaints and "sham" investigations in retaliation against him as well as publicly attacked him including over his employment suspension of a Cerilli supporter and family friend who pleaded guilty to human trafficking.
Walton seeks monetary relief, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by Thomas Anderson of Thompson, Rhodes & Cowie PC in Pittsburgh.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania case number 2:21-CV-00860