Somerset approves $125,000 settlement with former employee
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SOMERSET, Pa. – A federal lawsuit has been settled between Somerset County and a former county maintenance worker over free speech rights.
Somerset County commissioners voted 3-0 to approve an agreement outlining the settlement's terms, which Somerset County Co-Solicitor Benjamin Carroll said includes a $125,000 payment to the former employee.
The move settles a six-year-long dispute with former county worker Eric Trent, who sued the county in 2020.
Carroll said the payment includes both county funds and an unspecified payout from the county's insurance company.
He said under terms of the agreement, he could not get more specific but that the document 'speaks for itself.'
Carroll acknowledged the written agreement is a public record subject to the Right-to-Know Law and that the media is able to request a copy.
The Tribune-Democrat filed a written RTK request with the office Tuesday, and Carroll said the county must discuss the request with all parties involved prior to its release.
Barring any valid objections, 'it's our intent to follow the law and release it,' he said Tuesday.
First Amendment suit
Issues raised in the lawsuit date back to mid-2019. None of Somerset's current commissioners were serving in office at the time.
Somerset County and former President Commissioner Gerald Walker were sued by Trent after he voiced concern to Walker about a trend of hiring out-of-state workers for administrative roles at the time.
Federal court documents indicated the discussion between Walker and Trent occurred during a trade show and ended with Trent saying he'd work to see Walker defeated in an upcoming election for continuing the hiring practice.
Trent lost his county job a short time later.
He was publicly escorted from the courthouse, his suit alleged at the time.
Trent responded with the 2020 lawsuit, maintaining he had a right to voice his opinion and frustration about the county's practice.
The county's hired Pittsburgh legal counsel, Gabriel Fera, argued Trent raised issues too 'trivial' to be of public concern – and the board was within its right to terminate Trent.
But an appeals court sided with Trent in 2024. As a county citizen, Trent had a First Amendment right to voice his opinion about a public concern, a federal appeals court wrote.
The matter was sent back to the federal courts for mediation since.
Trent was contacted by The Tribune-Democrat for comment Tuesday. He said he could not discuss settlement specifics, but in a telephone interview said he was 'happy' with the way the case was resolved.
'I'm thankful for all the support I received from county employees,' he said, adding that he's continued receiving supportive calls from fellow Somerset County residents. 'It was a long process, but I'm just glad it's settled now.'
'Happy to have it resolved'
Somerset County officials said they were also eager to move on from the matter.
'This is an issue that arose prior to the term of these commissioners. (The legal dispute) has gone on for a long time, and we're happy to have it resolved,' Carroll added during an interview after the county's board meeting alongside current commissioners board members Brian Fochtman, Irv Kimmel Jr. and Pamela Tokar-Ickes.
Online court documents show the case was resolved in late February through mediation between Somerset County's legal counsel and Trent's attorneys.
Efforts to reach Walker were not successful Tuesday. A message for comment was not returned.
DeLuca: 'Recoup' losses
Somerset county officials did not specify how they'll specifically cover the county's settlement costs.
During the county's retirement board meeting Tuesday, Somerset County Treasurer Anthony DeLuca Jr. suggested the county take steps to recoup the funds from Walker.
DeLuca said the former commissioner's pension is not yet being dispersed to Walker and suggested that those retirement funds could be 'frozen ... to recoup some of that money.'
'Otherwise ... it's coming from taxpayer's pockets,' he said. 'I'd want to go after that (money).'
The county's three commissioners did not respond to DeLuca's suggestion during the board meeting.
Carroll said it's something the commissioners board could discuss among themselves as an option, if they choose.
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