Initial talks aimed at settling a federal sexual harassment lawsuit against Schuylkill County Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr. and several county officials failed on Friday.

Notice of the outcome was filed Tuesday. No further information was given other than that a “settlement was not reached.”

The suit was filed in U.S. District Court, Scranton on March 16, 2021 by four women who work at the courthouse, alleging Halcovage sexually harassed them beginning from when he was first elected in 2012.

An addition was filed on Oct. 29 of that year, alleging several county officials either did nothing to stop the harassment, created a hostile work environment, or engaged in retaliation against two of the women.

In addition to Halcovage, County Administrator Gary R. Bender, First Assistant County Solicitor Glenn T. Roth Jr., former interim Human Resources Director Doreen Kutzler, and former Human Resources Director Heidi L. Zula were also named in the suit.

Two of the women were demoted, accused of misusing county software, and in September 2021, suspended without pay.

The settlement talks were held Friday, June 9, overseen by U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph F. Saporito Jr.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin C. Carlson is presiding over the lawsuit. On May 1, he agreed to the settlement negotiations.

He gave both parties until Aug. 1 to submit a settlement status report.

Catherine W. Lowry, who represents the women, declined to comment. Halcovage’s lawyer, Gerard J. Geiger, did not respond.

Halcovage has consistently denied the allegations.

He lost his bid for a fourth term in office in the May primary election.

The woman are referred to in the lawsuit as Jane Doe 1, Jane Doe 2, Jane Doe 3, and Jane Doe 4.

In January, US Department of Justice agreed to settle its separate accusations against the county.

That dispute was based on the charges of discrimination filed by the woman with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. That settlement required the county to take specific steps to prevent sexual harassment and discrimination, and to have its compliance monitored by the government.

The Department of Justice’s agreement to settle was also based on the county’s earlier offer to the women to settle the lawsuit for $850,000 to the women, plus payment of their legal costs and attorney’s fees.

The accusations against Halcovage first emerged in 2020, when the Human Resources Department found that he had violated the sexual harassment, conduct and disciplinary action, and physical and verbal abuse policies.

According to the department’s report, those violations would have resulted in Halcovage’s termination had he been an employee instead of an elected official.

The matter was sent to the state office of the Attorney General by Schuylkill County District Attorney Michael A. O’Pake. The office of the Attorney General did not file charges.