Case Management Meeting for OES Civil Suit Set for January 6 in Pittsburgh

Ron Wilshire

Ron Wilshire

Published December 1, 2016 5:35 am
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CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — An initial case management conference regarding a civil suit filed by a former dispatcher in Clarion County Office of Emergency Services is scheduled for January 6, 2017, in Pittsburgh at The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania before Judge David S. Cerone.

The civil suit by a Clarion woman alleges sex discrimination, a hostile work environment, and retaliation. The Plaintiff and her attorneys Kraemer, Manes & Associates, LLC, and Martell Harris, Esquire, filed the civil complaint on October 25, 2016, against the Clarion County Office of Emergency Services for violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The woman and her attorneys are demanding a jury trial.

Pittsburgh labor attorneys Brian P. Gabriel and Julie A. Aquino are representing the Clarion County Office of Emergency Services.

The woman first filed a claim with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and EEOC issued a dismissal and notice of rights to the woman on August 19, 2016.  EEOC said she was allowed to pursue a civil suit within 90 days.

“Based upon its investigation, the EEOC is unable to conclude that the information obtained establishes violations of the statutes,” stated the EEOC in its notice.  “This does not certify that the respondent is in compliance with the statutes.  No finding is made to other issues that might be construed as having been raised by this charge.”

The woman started her employment with Clarion County as a dispatcher in 2013 and was terminated from her position on September 23, 2015.

She alleges she was terminated shortly after making complaints about the sexual harassment she suffered at work.

Some of the complaints include alleged behavior by dispatcher Nate Girvan against her.

The woman reportedly complained to supervisors, requested to be reassigned to another shift without Girvan, and then reported the incidents to OES Director Vern Smith. According to the complaint, Smith stated that Girvan did not deny the claims against him.

Smith, Clarion County OES and 911 Director, was terminated from the position effective March 3, but Clarion County Commissioners would not comment on the action or provide a reason.

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