On Tuesday, February 4, 2025, Observer-Reporter reported that a former employee of the Washington County Courthouse filed a lawsuit against Judge John DiSalle, alleging wrongful termination in retaliation for raising legal concerns. Elizabeth Sullivan, who had a 24-year career at the courthouse, claims that her job overseeing DiSalle’s problem-solving court was terminated after she reported issues regarding the judge’s treatment of defendants.

Sullivan’s lawsuit, lodged in the Washington County Court of Common Pleas, accuses both Judge DiSalle and former court administrator Patrick Grimm of orchestrating her dismissal in 2023. The suit alleges that DiSalle denied numerous veterans the right to legal representation during hearings in the specialized court program he managed. Sullivan contends that when she alerted state judicial authorities about these practices, DiSalle retaliated by removing her from her role.

According to the legal complaint, Sullivan informed DiSalle that the veterans were entitled to have attorneys present in the hearings. Following her communication, DiSalle reportedly spoke with Grimm in November 2022, requesting that Sullivan be excluded from the problem-solving court. The lawsuit claims this exclusion was a deliberate move by DiSalle to prevent Sullivan from reporting his actions to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC), which oversees the state’s judicial system.

The lawsuit states, “Exclusion of Sullivan from the sanctions hearings was done purposefully by DiSalle to prevent Sullivan from informing the AOPC/others of DiSalle’s denying veterans the right to counsel.” The AOPC allegedly reached out to DiSalle to inquire about the claims regarding veterans’ rights, but the lawsuit asserts that DiSalle continued to conduct hearings without allowing legal representation for the defendants.

Sullivan took her concerns to the AOPC, which she claims constituted protected activity under the law. Following Sullivan’s complaint, Grimm allegedly informed DiSalle, leading to a series of actions that resulted in Sullivan’s job being terminated through a county salary board restructuring. On August 16, 2023, Sullivan received notification from Grimm regarding the elimination of her position.

The AOPC investigated Sullivan’s allegations and reportedly found them to be “meritorious,” specifically concerning DiSalle’s alleged violations of the state’s non-discrimination and equal employment opportunity policies. On January 23, 2024, the AOPC communicated to Sullivan that it had taken “appropriate action” regarding the situation.

Four days prior, DiSalle had announced at a bar association meeting that he would step down as president judge but would continue to serve as a judge. The lawsuit claims that this decision was influenced by “unlawful actions” taken against Sullivan, as directed by the AOPC.

Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that DiSalle made repeated statements insinuating that Sullivan held prejudiced views against Black individuals, despite her having two Black nieces. Sullivan has consistently denied these claims, asserting that DiSalle’s remarks were baseless and inappropriate, injecting irrelevant racial issues into the workplace.

The lawsuit further alleges that DiSalle and Grimm utilized Sullivan’s complaint about the racial comments as justification for the restructuring that led to her dismissal. Sullivan’s attorney, Noah Geary, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “We want serious monetary damages because this was outrageous. Liz Sullivan stood up for all veterans in Washington County and lost her job because of it.”

Geary noted that Sullivan is currently seeking comparable employment and that the termination of her position had a “devastating” impact on her life. He expressed confidence in the truth of her allegations, which he believes are supported by the AOPC’s actions against DiSalle.

Judge DiSalle, who did not respond to requests for comment, has indicated his intention to run for judicial retention in the upcoming November election for another 10-year term. Meanwhile, Grimm, who recently left his role as court administrator for a new position in Pittsburgh, declined to comment on the allegations, stating he had not seen the lawsuit.

The AOPC, the state Unified Judicial System, and Washington County are also named as defendants in the lawsuit. Officials from the AOPC have refrained from commenting on the lawsuit or the allegations against DiSalle. Geary mentioned that while the case is currently filed in state court, certain aspects may lead to a potential transfer to federal court.

 

 

Source: Observer-Reporter