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Monessen settles federal sexual harassment lawsuit

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MONESSEN – The City of Monessen has settled a federal sexual harassment lawsuit filed last year by a meter maid who claimed the former mayor wanted sex from her before approving her request for more hours on the job.

The case brought by Melissa Luketich was closed late last month with prejudice, meaning the complaint against the city and former mayor Lou Mavrakis cannot be brought again before the court, online court records show.

The settlement, whose terms have not been revealed, was reached while the case was in mediation. The case was closed May 30.

Luketich worked for six years as a parking meter monitor, a 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. job. As a single mother who was making $7.25 an hour, she asked Mavrakis in May 2016 to be able to work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to boost her paycheck.

The mayor’s response humiliated her, she claimed in her suit, and her allegations were passed on to a lieutenant in the police department and the police chief. Mavrakis later denied making the alleged statement, and then-police Chief John Mandarino reportedly instructed Luketich to contact an attorney.

Mavrakis served one term as mayor and was defeated in November by Matt Shorraw.

Comments allegedly made by Shorraw about unspecified litigation resulted in council taking a May 10 no-confidence vote against him, city officials said Thursday when council attempted to hold a meeting.

Councilman Anthony Orzechowski directed anyone with questions about Shorraw’s remarks to the May 25 edition of the Mon Valley Independent, saying he cannot comment on the case.

In the article, Shorraw was quoted as saying council believed he bolstered Luketich’s lawsuit by communicating to her he agreed council was “biased and sexist.”

Shorraw did not reply to an email Friday seeking comment on his decision to discuss the litigation with a reporter before the settlement was reached.

He has not attended the past three city council meetings, leaving the board without a quorum to pay bills and conduct other city business.

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