A federal lawsuit filed by five former Latrobe volunteer firefighters alleges they were kicked out of the fire department after speaking out against Chief John Brasile.
The suit accuses Brasile of routinely showing up late to emergency scenes, falsely claiming to have responded to scenes where he wasn’t present, attempting to manage scenes remotely while on vacation out of state, making sexist and racist comments regarding firefighters, and removing his opponent from the ballot in last year’s election for chief.
Plaintiffs Christopher Blessing, Fabian Giovannagelo, Nico Giovannagelo, Cody Giovannagelo and Ryan Jones were expelled from the department in May.
They are suing Brasile, the City of Latrobe, Mayor Rosemarie Wolford, the fire department and department President Charles McDowell Jr. The suit was filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
It is the latest salvo in a prolonged battle over leadership of the department.
“All I want to do is serve my community,” said Fabian Giovannagelo. “I just want to be a volunteer, that’s all I’m asking.”
He said he could not discuss details of the lawsuit, directing further questions to attorney Frederick Charles of Allentown.
Charles declined to comment, saying he does not discuss pending litigation.
Brasile did not return requests for comment.
Latrobe solicitor John Greiner on Tuesday morning said he had not read the lawsuit, and could not comment until he had done so and consulted with city council.
According to the lawsuit, Brasile used a sexist slur to refer to a female firefighter and referred to two firefighters as the department’s “Mexicans.”
Fabian Giovannagelo confronted Brasile about his language and several safety concerns, the suit said.
In November, Nico Giovannagelo—Fabian’s son—was nominated as a candidate for fire chief.
On Dec. 2, days before the election, Brasile suspended Nico Giovannagelo and six other firefighters without explanation.
As a result of his suspension, Nico Giovannagelo was removed from the ballot, and Brasile won an unopposed election, according to the lawsuit.
City leaders later said the suspended firefighters falsely reported to have responded to emergency scenes where they were not present. Brasile also said the suspended firefighters would respond to emergencies while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit denies these allegations, and accuses Brasile of suspending firefighters who opposed him.
At a January meeting, fire department members voted to investigate Brasile’s conduct and suspend him as fire chief.
According to the lawsuit, Wolford overturned the decision, saying, “If you want a new chief, you need a new vote.”
On March 5, members of the department reportedly voted to oust Brasile and appoint Nico Giovannagelo as the new chief, less than three months after Brasile had been reelected to a two-year term. Brasile said his supporters did not participate in the election, and that he would have won otherwise.
The next day, members of Hose Company No. 1 voted to expel Brasile as a member. Hose Company No. 1 is one of five stations in the department. Brasile and the lawsuit’s five plaintiffs were members there.
The city ruled the March election was invalid and transferred Brasile to Hose Company No. 2.
In May, Brasile expelled the five plaintiffs from the fire department without explanation, according to the lawsuit.
The firefighters asked for an appeal hearing. They were not told when a hearing would be held. McDowell told them after the fact that an “appeal meeting” had been held without them, where their expulsion was upheld, according to the lawsuit.
The plaintiffs allege Brasile, McDowell and the city conspired to unlawfully expel them for exercising their First Amendment right to criticize the fire chief.
They are seeking reinstatement in the fire department, Brasile’s expulsion, validation of the March election making Nico Giovannagelo chief and at least $150,000 in damages.
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