Plum settles disability discrimination lawsuit with ex-employee

Plum paid a former employee $6,600 and his attorney $4,400 to settle a federal disability discrimination lawsuit, the borough revealed Tuesday in response to a Right to Know request from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Alan D. Lyons, 57, of Monroeville claimed in the lawsuit that the borough in December 2010 fired him from his position as assistant public works director after he asked for an accommodation of his disability. The borough said he was fired for failing to do his job and claimed he had an unspecified disability only on the day he was fired.

U.S. District Judge Arthur Schwab on Friday approved a joint motion to dismiss the case. Lyons' attorney, Joseph Chivers, was unavailable for comment. Mike Thomas, borough manager, declined comment but released the settlement amount in response to the Right to Know request.

Brian Bowling is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at 412-325-4301 or bbowling@tribweb.com.