Job applicant sues Trinity
A woman who was seeking a job as a special services aide in Trinity Area School District filed suit in Washington County Court claiming the district wrongfully turned away her employment application.
Wendy Ballentyne, whose address is reported in court documents only as Washington County, sought employment with Trinity last September.
Ballentyne, according to the complaint, submitted a folder to the district’s human resources director containing an application, résumé, clearances and recommendations from previous employers.
When the director, identified in court documents as Joyce Hannen, came across Ballentyne’s FBI criminal background check, it contained a conviction on a charge of criminal mischief.
The FBI finding was marked, in bold letters, “does not prohibit hire.”
According to the suit, Hannen told Ballentyne, “with the Sandusky situation, we can’t and won’t have anyone with a record around our kids.”
Former Washington resident Jerry Sandusky was convicted five years ago on multiple counts of sexually molesting minors at Penn State University. He is serving a prison sentence while appealing his convictions.
Ballentyne offered to leave her file for further review but allegedly was told by Hannen, “That won’t matter. Maybe try and get your record expunged and then reapply, but leaving your paperwork would be a waste of time.”
The plaintiff claims she had a right, as an aggrieved party, to take the case to court under state’s Criminal History Record Information Act.
Ballentyne maintains she was injured and asked the court to award compensatory and punitive damages, costs and attorney’s fees.
The district’s superintendent, Dr. Michael Lucas, could not immediately be reached for comment late Friday afternoon.