The four Schuylkill County courthouse workers who filed a federal sexual harassment lawsuit against Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr. are unhappy with the judge conducting initial settlement talks and want to try again with a different one.

Meanwhile, there is a possibility the judge presiding over the lawsuit may settle it.

All of the people involved in the suit negotiated on June 9, but the talks were fruitless. A second round had been scheduled for Thursday, but those plans were dropped at the women’s request.

Attorney Catherine W. Lowry, who represents the women, identified in the suit as Jane Doe 1, 2, 3 and 4, referred to the negotiation talks in an exchange of emails during the week of June 12 among District Magistrate Judge Joseph Saporito Jr., the first judge to oversee the initial attempt at negotiation; Gerard J. Geiger, who represents Halcovage; and Attorney Marie Milie Jones, who represents the county and County Administrator Gary R. Bender.

The emails were attached to a request by Jones asking for more time to file documents related to a summary judgment.

A summary judgment would avoid a trial, with a judge instead ruling to resolve the lawsuit based on evidence and statements.

The request, along with the email attachments, were made public Monday afternoon when they were listed on the website of the U.S. District Court, Scranton.

U.S. District Magistrate Judge Martin C. Carlson on Tuesday granted Jones’ request for more time, until July 31, to file motions for a summary judgment. Responses to those motions are due by Aug. 31.

In the emails, Lowry wrote that her clients were “disappointed” with how the talks were handled, and were unwilling to proceed with Saporito. She suggested proceeding with Magistrate Judge Karoline Mehalchick.

Jones wrote, “We remain far apart, but progress has been made. So by agreeing to further mediate, my clients are agreeing in good faith to continue that progress and still try to find common ground.”

Geiger encouraged the parties to continue the settlement talks, saying he would be “willing to remain involved.”

As of Tuesday, there was no further movement.

The woman filed the lawsuit against Halcovage in March 2021. He has denied any wrongdoing.

In addition to the accusations of sexual harassment, it also alleges that some county officials failed to stop the harassment and subsequent retribution against the women, including demoting, suspending, and trying to fire them, and that they helped try to cover it up.

Also named in the suit are Bender, First assistant County Solicitor Glenn T. Roth Jr., former interim Human Resources Director Doreen Kutzler, and former Human Resources Director Heidi L. Zula.

The allegations against Halcovage became public in 2020, when investigation by the county Human Resources Department determined that he had violated the county sexual-harassment, conduct and disciplinary action, and physical and verbal abuse policies. The county sent the findings to the state Office of the Attorney General, which did not file criminal charges.

Impeachment proceedings were begun last year, but ended at the finish of the fall legislative session and were never resumed.

Halcovage lost his bid for another term in office in the May Primary Election.