Uniontown lawsuit settled for $78,636
A sexual-harassment and sexual-discrimination lawsuit in the Uniontown Area School District was settled and the case was closed this week in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh. Paula Work, assistant principal in the district’s mountain area schools, received a settlement of $78,636 in the case.
Work two years ago sued the school district, the school board and Dr. William Dickinson, principal at Lafayette School, and Dr. Darrell Uphold, retired superintendent, both as individuals and in their official capacities.
Work had been employed in various capacities for the school district since 1997. In the text of the civil lawsuit, she claimed Dickinson shortly after she came under his supervision in August, 1998, started a course of “sexually oriented, undesirable and offensive remarks, lewd and sexually suggestive behavior” toward her. The lawsuit further alleged that once she complained, Dickinson responded with rude and unprofessional treatment and the offenses affected her psychologically and made performing her daily work difficult.
She made no allegations that Uphold harassed her, but he was named in the action as the district’s head of administration.
The lawsuit also made an allegation that the district used Work’s gender to short her in pay; that she had more experience and was performing more demanding work, but was receiving less compensation than her male counterparts. The lawsuit alleged that Work complained to higher officials, but the sexual harassment and discrimination were allowed to continue.
Work had filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that was dismissed. The lawsuit acknowledged that complaint, but claimed it was not completely done and failed to look into all claims.
Work had asked for compensatory and punitive damages for emotional stress and humiliation, as well as pay she said she was due on the wage scale.
Work said she could not comment on the matter.
Dickinson could not be reached for comment.
Asked for his reaction, Uphold said he is considering a legal response of his own. He said he wanted to wait until everything was settled until he made any movement, but has been in contact with three different legal sources, including his daughter, who is an attorney in Los Angeles, Calif., regarding his possible options.
The school board at the Aug. 19 regular business meeting voted 6-2 to accept the settlement reached between the attorneys for the parties in the case. However, the details of the settlement were not revealed at that time.
Those voting yes were directors Charles Castor, Dorothy Grahek, Nancy Herring, William Rittenhouse Jr. and Tammy Boyle as well as president Harry “Dutch” Kaufman. The no votes came from directors Susan Clay and Ronald Machesky. Director Ken Meadows was absent.
Gregory C. Melucci of Maiello, Brungo & Maiello of Pittsburgh represented the school district and officials and Joel S. Sansone of Scanlon & Sansone in Pittsburgh represented Work in the case.
Melucci filed an “offer of judgment” Sept. 11 that made the offer to Work in the amount of $78,636, which “shall include all costs and attorney’s fees” prior to that date. Her attorney’s reply of acceptance on her behalf was dated Sept. 18.
The judgment was entered in federal court and the case closed on Monday.