Settlement Talks Resume in Jane Doe Lawsuit

Both sides have resumed settlement negotiations in the sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by 4 Jane Doe plaintiffs against Schuylkill County government officials and Commissioner George Halcovage.

According to court documents filed on Monday, the County and the plaintiffs have entered into “good faith discussions related to settlement” in the matter.

The lawsuit against Halcovage and several other County officials as well as County government, as a whole, accused the Commissioner of a pattern of sexual harassment and assault. It also accused Courthouse officials of complicity in this alleged behavior and retaliation against the Jane Doe plaintiffs, all County employees, for speaking out against the Commissioner.

Halcovage has continued to deny any allegations against him in this matter, ever since the lawsuit was filed back in 2021.

Earlier this year, it was revealed in court filings that the Jane Doe plaintiffs rejected a settlement offer of $850,000, insisting they wanted a chance to tell their story in full for the public to hear.

New court documents reveal that both sides of this lawsuit requested that the case be referred to US Magistrate Judge Joseph Saporito Jr. Saporito previously held a settlement conference in this case.

Judge Martin Carlson, who’s been presiding over the case approved the request and ordered that a settlement conference status report be filed by Aug. 1.

Saporito has called for a scheduling conference on May 9.