Jul 8, 2015 1 min read

Former state Rep. Jesse White, his wife, Eileen, and his sister, Nicole White, are suing their mother and mother-in-law, Sharlene Watazychyn, for defamation following her filing of a February lawsuit against her son accusing him of identity theft.

The Whites are seeking damages in excess of $50,000, and claim that Watazychyn invaded their privacy, intentionally inflicted emotional distress, interfered with contractual relationships and created commercial disparagement. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Washington County Court.

Watazychyn’s suit claims White opened a Citibank credit card in his mother’s name, using it to fund his law office and write hefty checks. According to the lawsuit, the account was opened in 2004 and was used, among other things, to purchase Pittsburgh Penguins tickets and finance a 2012 trip to Las Vegas.

Jesse White alleges the lawsuit was filed in retaliation after the mother and son had a falling out, and that he is an authorized user on the account and pays the bill.