CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. -- A second woman has now filed a complaint against Town of Cheektowaga Judge Paul Piotrowski.
Last month, 2 On Your Side reported that the former chief clerk of the court, Stephanie Lewandowski, had filed a federal lawsuit against Piotrowski and the town, alleging harassment and wrongful termination, after the Town Board eliminated her job.
Another clerk, Kim Kent-Chojnicki worked for the Cheektowaga court system for almost ten years before being let go last year.
Chojnicki has now filed a complaint against Piotrowski and the Town with the state's Division of Human Rights which has been obtained by 2 On Your Side.
In the complaint, Chojnicki charges that she lost her job for two reasons:
- One because she supported her chief court clerk, Lewandowski, who confided to her that Judge Piotrowski was verbally harassing her;
- And secondly, because Chojnicki turned down Piotrowski's advances towards her.
Citing the on-going legal matter, Chojnicki's attorneys declined to let her speak with us.
"Kim is a woman who was a dedicated worker, who enjoyed her job and who has a quiet courage," said her attorney Lindy Korn. "It takes a lot of courage to stand up for somebody else, and then stand up for yourself."
This all started five years ago when Piotrowski was the town prosecutor. At that time, a third woman, another clerk in the court, alleged that Piotrowski had sexually harassed her. That woman complained to her boss, Lewandowski, who then reported the alleged harassment to the town's HR department.
In her federal lawsuit against the judge and the town, Lewandowski says her reporting of the alleged sexual harassment incident resulted in Piotrowski then repeatedly verbally harassing her and ultimately led to the town board eliminating Lewandowski's job. The town has denied those charges.
Now, in her complaint against Piotrowski, Chojnicki said she would often stay late at work to make sure that Lewandowski was not left alone with the judge.
"I did this because Ms. Lewandowski feared for her safety when alone with the Judge Piotrowski as he routinely threatened Ms. Lewandowski..." Chojnicki says in her complaint.
Chojnicki claims that her support for her fellow worker resulted in the judge retaliating against her as well.
"The judge would give me new job duties but would not provide the tools necessary to complete the job, in essence setting me up to fail," Chojnicki charges in her complaint.
Another reason for the alleged retaliation, Chojnicki claims, is that she turned down Piotrowski's advances.
Chojnicki, who is married, says Piotrowski called her at home when he was the town prosecutor and said that "he really liked me." When she responded that she thought he was a "good guy," Chojnicki says Piotrowski said, "No, I mean, I really, really like you." Chojnicki said at that point she ended the phone call.
Chojnicki's claim of Piotrowski hitting on her is buttressed by a former court officer who tells 2 On Your Side's Scott Brown that one day Piotrowski asked the court officer if he thought that Chojnicki quote "screws around on her husband." The court officer says he told Piotrowski to "stay away" from Chojnicki and the other woman who worked for the court.
For his part, Piotrowski is denying all of the allegations. He declined an on camera interview but told Scott Brown that Chojnicki's charges are "maliciously false, defamatory and designed to hurt me. I'm asking the public not to believe what's being said about me or at least to withhold judgment, I'm an honorable man. I stand on my reputation developed over 38 years in law enforcement."
Piotrowski is up for election to another four year term this fall, he's running unopposed.
2 On Your Side contacted the town for a response to Chojnicki's complaint, the town attorney said it would have no comment because the matter is in litigation.
