Reading’s former director of human resources has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the city, the mayor and a former top administrative aide.
Aida Acevedo in a lawsuit filed March 29 has accused the city of sexual discrimination and retaliation. She also accuses Mayor Eddie Moran and Natanael Rivera Colon — who also is known as Nate Rivera — of violating her constitutional rights.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, claims Acevedo was subjected to hostility and suspended by Moran after she filed a complaint about Rivera with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
“When city of Reading Mayor Eddie Moran was inaugurated in January 2020, he promised the city’s residents that ‘integrity’ would be one of the ‘pillars’ of his administration,” the lawsuit states. “Given the lewd and dehumanizing behavior Moran’s top aide subsequently directed toward former city Human Resources Director Aida Acevedo, and Moran’s vindictive response after Acevedo reported it, Moran’s ‘pillar’ of ‘integrity’ still has yet to be set.”
According to the lawsuit:
Rivera’s harassment of Acevedo began in January 2021 and took various forms, including lewd comments and sexually explicit text messages, including one with a photograph.
The harassment continued, and in September 2021 Acevedo reported Rivera’s actions to then-Managing Director Abe Amoros and provided him with the photograph. Amoros enlisted outside counsel to investigate.
Weeks later, with no action having been taken, Acevedo submitted her resignation.
In early December 2021, Rivera was dismissed, and Moran pleaded with Acevedo to rescind her resignation and continue in her position.
According to the lawsuit, after Rivera was fired, Acevedo was subjected to extraordinary hostility and stripped of some of her job duties and responsibilities.
She then filed a complaint with the EEOC.
Acevedo was suspended Feb. 9, 2022, two days after filing the complaint, and was given a letter providing false and vague accusations of misconduct for her suspension.
The EEOC issued a dismissal and notice of rights on or about Dec. 30, 2022.
A city spokesperson issued a statement in response to the lawsuit.
“The City of Reading and Mayor Moran categorically deny the allegations contained in Ms. Acevedo’s lawsuit that she was retaliated against for reporting incidents of harassment,” the statement said. “To the contrary, after Ms. Acevedo reported the harassing behavior by a city employee. The city investigated the complaint in accordance with its policy which resulted in the termination of that employee with the support of the mayor.
“Unrelated to the complaint of harassment, Ms. Acevedo’s performance and behavior steadily deteriorated, and its impact on city operations gave the city no choice but to terminate her employment.
“The city and the mayor will vigorously defend against Ms. Acevedo’s lawsuit. The mayor will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that city employees perform their duties with competence and integrity as expected by the citizens of Reading and hold those who fail to meet those standards accountable for their behavior.”
Acevedo’s suit is the second time a lawsuit claiming sexual mistreatment has been filed against Moran and the city.
Former city solicitor Elizabeth Kraft accused the mayor of sexual harassment and filed a suit against Moran and the city in November 2021. That suit was settled in January when Kraft agreed to withdraw all claims she asserted against the mayor, according to a joint statement released at the time by Kraft, the city and Moran.
“Although I believe that I filed my lawsuit in good faith,” Kraft said in the statement, “during the course of the case it became clear to me that I misunderstood the mayor’s words and actions.”
Under the terms of the settlement, the city agreed to pay $89,166 to Kraft and $34,834 to her attorney, Weinstein Law Firm of Fort Washington, Montgomery County. The firm also represents Acevedo.
The settlement proceeds will come from the city’s insurance carrier and not from taxpayer funds, according to the joint statement.
Kraft also had accused Moran and the city of violating her civil rights.
“City Council or the citizens of this great city must now take action,” Acevedo’s attorney, Marc E. Weinstein, said in an email. “The horrific treatment Ms. Acevedo endured conveys an unmistakable message to highly skilled women everywhere that they are not wanted in city government. Yet the city desperately needs them if it is to thrive in a digital, 21st century America and global economy.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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