Lawless, a former Pennsylvania legislator and unsuccessful Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, claims DRPA discriminated against him because of an unspecified disability. He said DRPA tried to require him to undergo random alcohol and drug testing after his return from a leave of absence four months before his dismissal.
DRPA, which operates four Delaware River toll bridges and the PATCO commuter rail line between Philadelphia and South Jersey, has declined to say why Lawless was fired.
Lawless continued to collect his $10,300-a-month salary for four months after he was removed, until the DRPA board voted in August 2010 to officially terminate his employment.
At the time, four of the 16 DRPA board members voted against dismissal. One of the four, Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner, said he feared future lawsuits by Lawless could cost the agency dearly.
Other board members who opposed removing Lawless were Philadelphia labor leader John "Johnny Doc" Dougherty, Pennsylvania Treasurer Rob McCord, and former DRPA Police Officer Charles Fentress.
Lawless also figured in a DRPA controversy over official misuse of a free E-ZPass transponder that touched off months of upheaval and overhaul at the agency last year.
DRPA's chief public safety officer, Michael Joyce, resigned after acknowledging that he had borrowed an E-ZPass transponder from Lawless in 2008 to provide free bridge crossings for his daughter to attend school in Lower Merion. At the time, DRPA provided free bridge crossings or PATCO rides to all employees and retirees.
DRPA paid $61,785 to the Philadelphia law firm Jackson Lewis L.L.P. in 2010 and 2011 to handle its case against Lawless, according to legal invoices obtained by The Inquirer.
