By Joe Napsha
The Tribune-Review
NORTH HUNTINGDON, Pa. — A former North Huntingdon EMS/Rescue office manager is alleging in a federal lawsuit that she was subject to a decade of sexual harassment and retaliation by the service’s former executive director.
Kelly Pirl, 39, of McKeesport, claims in the six-count suit that Shane Spielvogle, 50, of East McKeesport, subjected her to “severe and pervasive” misconduct from 2013 until 2024.
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The lawsuit, filed in August in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh, names Spielvogle, former board president David Bertoty and the ambulance service as defendants, alleging violations of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and federal civil rights.
Pirl, who began working for the service in 2006, alleges Spielvogle touched her inappropriately on a near-daily basis, sent sexually offensive text messages, and offered to get a shared hotel room for the two during an EMS conference.
According to the filing, Spielvogle used his position in an attempt to silence Pirl, threatening to withhold raises and health benefits or fire both Pirl and her mother — also an EMS employee — if she continued to complain about his conduct.
The situation escalated in April 2024, the suit alleges, when Pirl and another female employee filed a complaint with the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office. Following an investigation by the detective bureau, the findings were turned over to the North Huntingdon EMS board, according to Melanie Jones, a spokesperson for District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli.
The suit also targets Bertoty, alleging he aided the hostile environment.
Spielvogle and Bertoty could not be reached for comment, but the defendants have denied the allegations in court filings. North Huntingdon EMS argued it had no knowledge of the alleged harassment and that Pirl suffered no compensable damages.
Bertoty denied making any comments regarding Spielvogle’s reputation, which Pirl claims in her lawsuit. He also denied ever receiving a report from the district attorney regarding sexual harassment allegations against Spielvogle.
An attorney for Pirl also could not be reached for comment. Current EMS Executive Director Robert Leuthold declined to comment on pending litigation.
Pirl left the ambulance service in June. She is seeking a jury trial and unspecified punitive and compensatory damages for mental anguish and future losses. No court date has been set.
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