Shorraw, 2 councilmen lose Sunshine Act suit

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

The first ruling in a trio of lawsuits alleging Sunshine Act violations went against Mayor Matt Shorraw and two Monessen councilmen.

Westmoreland County Judge Chris Scherer granted former Mayor Lou Mavrakis’ request for default judgment in a lawsuit he filed against Shorraw and councilmen Don Gregor and Gil Coles. 

The suit is one of three that were filed this year against Shorraw, the city and the councilmen alleging Sunshine Act violations took place during the council’s reorganization meeting Jan. 6. 

The allegations center around the claim that a private agenda was used, which seemed to be available only to the mayor, and the public was not given a reasonable opportunity to comment on the actions taken.

All three lawsuits have asked that the actions taken during that meeting be ruled null and void, and that’s one of the provisions Scherer granted Mavrakis in his judgment.

Those moves include firing Solicitor Joe Dalfonso and city Administrator Judith Taylor, in addition to hiring their replacements. 

Shorraw, Coles and Gregor have also been fined $500 each.

During a hearing in June, after Mavrakis submitted his request for default judgment, Mavrakis’ argument was that the defendants were in default because they never responded to his lawsuit.

Scherer agreed during the hearing and admonished attorney Matt Jaynes, saying he hadn’t filed a response to the original suit, a motion or a single brief in relation to the suit.

Scherer told Jaynes at the time his argument regarding the suit may have had merit, but he hadn’t filed anything, including an entry of appearance to defend Shorraw, Coles and Gregor in the suit that day. Scherer mentioned the lack of an entry of appearance filing again in his ruling. 

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