Jul 25, 2018 2 min read

MONESSEN – Monessen and its liability insurance carrier spent $26,000 to settle a federal sexual harassment lawsuit filed last year against the city and former mayor.

Local tax dollars were required to cover a $10,000 deductible payment to Nova Casualty Co. of Indianapolis, Ind., in connection with the lawsuit filed by a city meter maid, Melissa Luketich, against then-mayor Lou Mavrakis, court records show.

Luketich alleged in her lawsuit Mavrakis wanted sex from her before approving her request for more hours on the job.

The current mayor, Matt Shorraw, was criticized by his fellow councilmen for bolstering her lawsuit in May by telling her he believed the city was “biased and sexist.”

The case was settled shortly after that, May 30.

The settlement terms were obtained by the Observer-Reporter through an open-records request filed more than a month ago.

The settlement terms stipulate the city did not admit to wrongdoing in the case. It also required all parties to not comment on the settlement in newspapers or on social media. Luketich also agreed to not make any disparaging remarks about those involved in the case.

Luketich was to receive a $15,000 share of the settlement. The law firm that represented her, Kraemer, Manes & Associates of Pittsburgh, was to be paid $10,000 to settle the case. Another $1,000 covered the mediation fees, the court record shows.