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The City of Williamsport is without insurance to pay for any defense or potential award in a suit brought by a now-retired police officer, according to PennLive.com.
The U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed U.S. Middle District Judge Matthew W. Brann, who found Charter Oak Insurance Co. is not obligated to provide the defense in the latest suit by former Lt. Steven Helm.
Helm sued in 2021 naming the city, Mayor Derek Slaughter and former Mayor Gabriel J. Campana as the reason he was overlooked for promotion to chief, assistant chief and captain in retaliation for filing previous lawsuits. The first two suits claimed the long-time president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 29 was bypassed in retaliation for union activities, the news media source cited.
The three co-defendants sought to have National Insurance Co. and Charter Oak Fire Insurance Co. provide the defense of the suit but they declined, according to the report.
According to PennLive.com, the appeals court agreed with Brann's ruling Charter Oak has no duty to defend the city against Helm's third suit.