A former Erie County government employee's federal whistleblower lawsuit against Erie County Executive Brenton Davis is headed to settlement talks.

The outcome will help determine whether the case remains active into 2025, when Davis will be up for reelection to a second term.

A mediation session is scheduled for Oct. 24 before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard A. Lanzillo at the federal courthouse in Erie, according to an order filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Erie.

The session will mark the second attempt at a settlement since the suit was filed in October 2023. The first session was in March before a neutral lawyer. The parties have since gathered more evidence they can present before Lanzillo.

The plaintiff is Shawn Held. He is suing Davis and Erie County.

Food at county juvenile center spurred dispute

Davis fired Held after Held met with Davis in February 2023 and criticized the quality of the food at the county-owned Edmund L. Thomas Adolescent Center, where Held was a counselor.

Held was fired in March 2023. He raised concerns about the center's food at a County Council meeting in August 2023.

In his lawsuit, Held claims he was terminated from his $24,232-a-year job in violation of the Pennsylvania Whistleblower Law and the First and 14th Amendments. He is seeking reinstatement with back pay and compensation for damages related to job loss.

Held and his lawyer, Timothy McNair, claim Held was speaking on a matter of public concern when he complained to...

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