The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

May 11, 2008

Man adds to discrimination suit

By Joe Pinchot

HERMITAGE — A Hermitage man who filed an age discrimination suit against Primary Health Network has amended the suit to add the Primary Health Charitable Foundation, and two new counts.

John Geisel, 61, of 127 Baker Ave., has accused the Sharon-based medical provider of passing him over for promotions, demoting him, retaliating against him for bringing legal action, trying to provoke him into committing an offense for which he could be fired, and assigning him tasks that could not be completed within a set period of time.

Primary Health has denied that it showed age bias or retaliated against him, and contradicted the chain of events Geisel has presented in his federal suit. It said Geisel has been “obstinate and belligerent,” and that Geisel received every pay hike he was entitled to.

In the amended suit, Geisel said he was again denied the position he covets, that of facilities administrator, on Jan. 17, the position filled by a “substantially younger much less qualified person.”

Geisel said he was transferred to facilities director of the foundation — at a salary of $49,000 — that same day.

In papers filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission he called the transfer a “scheme” and a “bogus intentional attempt to deflect attention from the discrimination I was subjected to in 2006 and 2007 and my pending civil suit.”

Primary Health will have the opportunity to answer the new charges.

Geisel is seeking lost wages and benefits, compensatory damages for humiliation, emotional distress, personal injury and harm and physical injury, punitive damages and the costs associated with filing the suit.

Text Only
Local News
  • Labor Dept.: Franchise’s workers not paid properly

    The owners of the Brookfield Subway restaurant have been paying their employees less than minimum wage, shorting them on overtime pay and violating child labor laws for two years, a federal lawsuit alleges.

    February 7, 2012

  • Insecurity: Firm loses more local clients

    Reynolds Area School District is scrambling to find people to work security at upcoming games after finding out the Pittsburgh-area security firm they were using had some guards who were convicted felons or sex offenders.
    “That was a shock, believe me,” said school board President John Lowry.

    February 7, 2012

  • School budget predictions improve

    The upshot to planning for a worst-case scenario is it makes any change an improvement.
    Such is the case with Farrell Area School District’s finances, business manager William Dungee told school board members Monday.

    February 7, 2012

  • Chief gripe: Cramped quarters

    In Sharpsville, the long arm of the law needs room to stretch out.
    Police Chief Keith Falasco told council members Monday night that his department’s current space “is at the least inadequate,” and after off-and-on talks over the years to make improvements, he said the time has come.

    February 7, 2012

  • Pets perish in house fire

    A Sharon family’s home was heavily damaged in a Saturday night fire that killed their pets.

    February 6, 2012

  • Kelly rallies GOP faithful

    Mercer County Republicans agreed it was time for a change from the current administration at their annual Lincoln Day dinner Saturday night at Hempfield Station One Banquet Center, and Congressman Mike Kelly called not only for change but for more accountability.

    February 6, 2012

  • Mother leads charge for son’s autism therapy


    Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget cuts are preventing children with autism from getting the help they need.

    February 5, 2012

  • Victim describes armed robbery at her home

    Charges were held to court Friday against a Sharon teen charged as an adult in an October armed robbery.

    February 4, 2012

  • Overheated motor starts small fire at gas well

    Jamestown volunteer firefighters put out an accidental natural gas well equipment fire Friday morning in Greene Township that started when a pump motor overheated.

    February 4, 2012

  • Burglary was man’s solution to money woes

    The end of 2010 was “a crazy time in my life,” Grant T. Lockhart told a judge Thursday.

    February 4, 2012