An amended complaint has been filed in the Schuylkill County Commissioner George Halcovage federal lawsuit in Middle District Court.

Filed Oct. 29, the suit by the four women identified as Jane Doe 1, Jane 2, Jane Doe 3 and Jane Doe 4 lists employment actions that took place after the first lawsuit. Defendants are listed as Human Resources Director Heidi Zula and former interim director Doreen Kutzler, Halcovage, First Assistant Solicitor Glenn Roth and County Administrator Gary Bender.

The filing is the result of “the unlawful discrimination, hostile work environment, intimidation and retaliation by defendants against plaintiffs based on their sex and gender and in retaliation for plaintiff’s continued opposition to the unlawful comments and conduct of the defendants.”

Punitive damages and a jury trial are demanded.

“As defendants’ conduct has been malicious, willful, outrageous, and conducted with the full knowledge of the law, plaintiffs demand punitive damages against all the defendants jointly and severally.”

On March 16, the women sued Halcovage in court for his alleged sexual harassment of the women. All exhaustive remedies have been done, leading to the filing of the lawsuit, the document reads.

The amended complaint is not as graphic as the first one. However, it still alleges Halcovage requested sexual favors and made inappropriate comments. It alleges Roth and Bender knew of Halcovage’s actions and took no corrective steps to rectify the situation. Halcovage’s behavior caused the women to feel “extremely uncomfortable, humiliated, embarrassed, and distressed,” the suit reads.

Among the new entries in the complaint were requests to work from home by the women, which were “reprimanded” by Bender and Zula, per the complaint.

The suit also alleges that Kutzler permitted Halcovage and Bender to sign up for the same sexual harassment training that two of the women did which caused them “significant emotional distress.” They then changed their schedules and attended another training session. Two of the women have also been denied assigned parking spots, which the suit says is “in retaliation for their opposition to defendants’ unlawful discrimination and retaliation.”

The restructuring of the tax assessment and tax claim offices in March is also mentioned. Commissioner Gary Hess voted against the restructuring at the time, calling it a “demotion.” He was the only commissioner to do so.

“Upon information and belief, the discrimination and retaliation will continue after the date of this complaint and plaintiffs hereby make a claim for all continuing future harassment and retaliation,” the suit reads.

Additional claims are also made.

United States Magistrate Judge Martin C. Carlson issued a memorandum and order Monday that, among other things, it requires both parties to file a proposed stipulated confidentiality order or briefs so the court may form a confidentiality order. Furthermore, on or before Nov. 12 both parties must file a joint status report about if action is warranted pertaining to a preliminary injunction previously filed.

A revised case management order was also filed Monday.