Articles

District judge settles harassment case

Thursday, June 08, 2006 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A Fayette County district judge reached a settlement this week with a former employee who says he sexually harassed her.

Robert Breakiron, who serves in Connellsville, will pay the woman an undisclosed amount of money. The settlement will be paid in part by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, which employs Mr. Breakiron. Fayette County Common Pleas Court also was named as a defendant in the case.

Mr. Breakiron was sued in federal court by a former secretary in his office, Barbara Shaffer. She claimed that the judge fondled her, exposed himself to her and forced her into having sex on the couch in his office.

Ms. Shaffer went to police, but charges were not filed. Attorney Sam Cordes, who represented her, said the actions involved amounted to a civil case, not a criminal one.

After she contacted police, Ms. Shaffer claimed in her suit, Mr. Breakiron subjected her to "unwarranted discipline." She was fired in February 2005.