Ross' tax collector settled his defamation and retaliation lawsuit against the township, his attorney said Wednesday.
Gerald O'Brien claimed that five elected commissioners, solicitor Bonnie Brimmeier, former township manager Deborah Grass and vacancy board chairman George Tunney banned him from the municipal center for what he called unproven accusations that he sexually harassed township employees.
The township in court documents denied defaming or retaliating against O'Brien. O'Brien denied the charges of sexual harassment.
U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer on Tuesday approved a motion from both sides to dismiss the lawsuit.
Brimmeier said the township's insurance company will pay O'Brien $7,000.
“It was basically settled by the insurance company for economic reasons,” she said. “It was believed all along that the case didn't have any merit, and they didn't want to spend the money litigating it just to throw it out.”
She said O'Brien continues to be banned from the municipal building.
O'Brien said he could neither confirm nor deny the $7,000 settlement.
“I'm happy that's it over with,” he said. “I don't carry any ill will.”
Brimmeier said the commissioners voted in February 2013 to remove the tax office from the municipal building to make room for the Parks and Recreation Department before the deadline for filing for public office. The commissioners also doubled the township's contribution to the tax collector's salary from $5,000 to $10,000 a year.
Brian Bowling and Bill Zlatos are staff writers for Trib Total Media. Reach Zlatos at 724-772-6353 or bzlatos@tribweb.com. Reach Bowling at 412-325-4301 or bbowling@tribweb.com.
