In a recently filed federal civil-rights suit against three of her former superiors at the Belmont barracks, Antwana Murphy, 40, claims that she was forced to resign because of her boyfriend’s criminal activities while two white female colleagues whose paramours also had criminal records were not.

The suit says that on Jan. 6, 2007, Murphy, then a trooper, and her boyfriend of three years, John C. McMillon, 47, were out looking at homes when she fell asleep in the car and he stopped at a Radio Shack in Jenkintown, where he swiped “several” MP3 players.

Murphy claims that she didn’t wake up or learn of the theft until local police pulled over the couple’s car.

The suit also claims that it was only during the investigation that Murphy learned that McMillon had a prior record from a conviction when he was 18. It’s not clear from the suit or online court records what the conviction was for.

Jenkintown Police told Murphy’s supervisors at the State Police about the incident and her relationship with McMillon, the suit claims, and in August 2007, then-Captain David Young sent her an order to end her relationship with McMillion.

Murphy, who was pregnant with McMillon’s child, refused and filed a grievance, court records said. It took several months before the grievance was determined to be “arbitrable and subject to the grievance procedure,” the suit said.

In the interim, Murphy said, she was suspended for 30 days without pay.

In June 2008, Murphy said, she was “summoned to an interrogation room” where one of her supervisors told her that if she didn’t resign, she’d be court-martialed and lose all her benefits, court documents said.

Scared, Murphy resigned, but she claims that had she been able to pursue her grievances she would have offered up examples of two white State Police employees who were dating people with criminal histories and were not threatened or fired.

Murphy is seeking more than $150,000 in damages from three of her then-superiors at the State Police – Young, Lt. Gary Dance and Cpl. James Hein.

State Police spokeswoman Lt. Myra Taylor said that she was familiar with the suit but that the State Police does not comment on pending litigation.

When you have been wrongly terminated from your employment, Ciccarelli Lawyers will staunchly advocate for your rights.

Initial claims for jobless benefits rose by 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 472,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. It was the highest level in a month.

First-time jobless claims have hovered near 450,000 since the beginning of the year after falling steadily in the second half of 2009. That has raised concerns that hiring is lackluster and could slow the recovery.

Still, the four-week average for unemployment claims, which smoothes volatility, dipped slightly to 463,500. That’s down by 3,750 from the start of January.

Economists say they will feel more optimistic that the economy is creating jobs once initial jobless claims fall below 425,000 per week.

Just this week, casino owner Wynn Resorts laid off more than 260 workers in its two Las Vegas casino hotels in a move expected to save nearly $8 million.

The number of people continuing to claim benefits rose by 88,000 to 4.57 million. That doesn’t include about 5.2 million people who receive extended benefits paid for by the federal government.

As jobless claims continue to increase, it is even more important to get yourself ahead by having a clear record. Ciccarelli Lawyers have the expertise needed to clear your record. Contact us to find out how to get an expungement or pardon today.

Your job is important to you and your family and Steve Jarmon is the type of employment lawyer who understands how employment impacts your quality of life.  Steve Jarmon is part of Ciccarelli Lawyers; he is a West Chester PA employment lawyer serving the greater Philadelphia region from our law offices in Chester County in West Chester, Kennett Square and Downingtown/Exton Pennsylvania.

Employment law includes a wide area of issues that includes wages, earnings and salary, how you are treated at work, and what happens if you are forced to leave your employment because of injury, illegal harassment or discrimination, laid off, fired, constructively discharged or other illegal action by your employer.  Mr. Jarmon can determine whether you need representation at an unemployment compensation hearing and provide you the valuable advocacy to fight for your case; and he can evaluate your termination to determine if your rights were violated and you have a case.

Steve Jarmon heads our employment law department and provides representation to employers and employees throughout the Philadelphia metropolitan area including Chester County Pennsylvania.  Our West Chester PA employment law team understands state and federal employment laws and keep abreast of any changes in those laws that may affect our clients and their legal options.

Learn more about Steve Jarmon:  a former prosecutor, Mr. Jarmon brings his years of experience in the Chester County DA’s Office fighting injustice and making violators pay for trying to profit and exploit the law.  He is that West Chester PA employment lawyer that will work with you to prosecute any employer who would subject you to illegal discrimination or treatment in the workplace. 

Our West Chester Pa Employment Law practice includes providing representation in:

• Unemployment Compensation Claims
• Employment contract review and drafting
• Employment agreements, including non-compete agreements, confidentiality agreements and severance agreements
• Enforcement and defense of employment contracts and agreements
• Employment Discrimination
• Violation of employment law statutes
• Wage-and-hour disputes
• Sexual harassment
• Workers’ compensation benefits
• Social Security disability benefits

Mr. Jarmon can provide you the valuable representation you need at a Unemployment Compensation Appeal hearing in Malvern, PA; at a fact-finding conference before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) in Philadelphia PA, or pursuing claims for benefits before a Workers Compensation hearing or Social Security disability benefits hearing.  Mr. Jarmon accepts employment discrimination cases including cases of race discrimination, sex discrimination, age discrimination, diability discrimination and gender discrimination throughout Chester County and Philadelphia PA.

Contact Us for Information About Employment Law in West Chester PA

Contact Steve Jarmon and the Employment law team of Ciccarelli Lawyers at (610) 925-2500 or toll free (877) 529-2422 to schedule an initial consultation if you have a question about your rights under Pennsylvania employment law, or have an issue or dispute that you believe needs legal attention.  Our employment law practice is based in Chester County and we have locations in West Chester, Kennett Square and Exton and serve: Downingtown, Coatesville, Paoli, Malvern, Devon, Paoli, Oxford, West Grove, Lionville, Phoenixville in Chester County and also serve clients in Delaware County, Lancaster County, Montgomery County and Philadelphia PA.

Employment law pertains to the rights and obligations arising from your job and workplace.  The Employment Law department of Ciccarelli Lawyers works with our clients to assist them in their employment law related issues.  Steve Jarmon heads the employment law department of our Chester County based law practice and handles employment law related issues such as unemployment compensation, employment contract issues, employment discrimination, workers compensation and social security disability.  Learn about Employment law in West Chester PA by contacting attorney Steve Jarmon.

Steve Jarmon uses his experience in the Chester County district attorney’s office as a prosecutor to aggressively pursue an employer who has violated your rights and broken the law; and is motivated to fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.  A West Chester PA Employment Lawyer who fights for you:  When you are facing a Pennsylvania employment issue you need to look for an attorney with the experience and motivation to get results for you.  Steve Jarmon heads the employment department at Ciccarelli Lawyers.  Steve Jarmon is based in Chester County, part of the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area and welcomes the opportunity to meet you in one of our meeting locations in West Chester, Kennett Square and Exton/Downingtown PA.

Learn how employment discrimination attorney Steve Jarmon and the Ciccarelli Lawyers can work get the results you need in the various types of actionable employment discrimination claims in West Chester Pennsylvania and Chester County including:   

• Race discrimination. Do not be the victim of racism in 21st Century America!  Steve Jarmon is ready to aggressively fight race discrimination claims in the work force and will use the prosecutorial style he learned in the district attorney’s office to fight your race based employment discrimination claim.
• Age discrimination. Steve Jarmon can help employees who have been the victim of age based layoffs and have been terminated or discriminatorily treated based on age.   
• Sex discrimination. Steve Jarmon can prosecute your sex discrimination case and will take steps to champion your claim of sex based discrimination including equal pay cases, and failure to promote and hire cases.   
• Disability discrimination. Mr. Jarmon takes claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),  very seriously and fights to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities.   
• Religious discrimination. Mr. Jarmon can help you, putting pressure on an employer who attempts to discriminate based on religious including the refusal of employers to allow time for religious observance.

Facing Unemployment in West Chester or Chester County Pennsylvania?  Get the Unemployment Compensation benefits you and your family need.  Many people who lose their jobs think they are not eligible for unemployment compensation because they were terminated. Actually, the opposite is true. You are often not eligible for unemployment compensation if you leave voluntarily.  Speak with employment attorney Steve Jarmon to discuss your rights to make a claim for unemployment compensation.

If you are terminated from employment as a result of a layoff or job elimination, you are eligible for unemployment compensation. The only times you are not eligible are if you quit voluntarily without “necessitous or compelling reasons” or commit willful misconduct. Willful misconduct is being insubordinate, committing theft or other crimes at work, or violating the rules and regulations of the workplace.

The Pennsylvania Bureau of Employment Security typically doesn’t deny unemployment compensation benefits unless the claim is contested by the employer. If your employer wants to contest an unemployment claim because of willful misconduct, then the burden of proof is on the employer to prove it.

If your unemployment compensation claim is contested, you have a right to a hearing before an Unemployment Compensation Referee . It’s very important to be represented by a lawyer at this hearing. Our lawyers can attend this hearing with you and ensure your rights are protected.