ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The man who was hired two years ago to lead Allentown’s human resources department, but who lasted less than two months, is suing the city over his quick departure.
Nadeem Shahzad in August 2023 said he was illegally fired as HR director for refusing to fire an employee the mayor deemed a “troublemaker.” Shahzad later said he was forced to resign by Mayor Matt Tuerk.
He said then that he planned to pursue litigation against the city for terminating him without valid cause after just 35 working days.
"My hope is that through the legal process, the truth will prevail and justice will be served," Shahzad wrote two years ago in an email obtained by LehighValleyNews.com.
Shahzad followed through on that pledge Monday by filing a lawsuit in federal court alleging illegal retaliation and discrimination were why he left his position as HR director under a cloud.
He also said he has been unable to access unemployment benefits or find work because the city filed “false statements” that state Shahzad “voluntarily quit.”
Shahzad is seeking an unspecified amount of lost wages, benefits and bonuses he said he would have otherwise earned.
Long investigation, large legal costs
Allentown City Council unanimously approved Shahzad’s hiring in June 2023.
The former HR director for Delaware County and Nassau County, New York, he was tabbed to take over the city’s HR department amid high turnover in city jobs.
About a month into his tenure, a five-page letter — published on Allentown NAACP letterhead — expressed concerns over reports of racism and discrimination under Tuerk’s administration.
A letter purportedly sent by the local NAACP prompted an investigation that found “no systemic issue of racial … discrimination” and cost taxpayers more than $500,000 across two years.
The letter listed “a concerning number of complaints from Black and Brown employees,” including allegations that white police officers were allowed to cheat on tests — giving them a better shot at promotions — and verbally abused their Black colleagues with threats and racial slurs.
Leaders of the local NAACP chapter distanced themselves from the letter after its release.
Barbara Redmond, a former secretary for the chapter, issued the letter. She was stripped of her membership by the national organization for six years over her actions, according to officials.
That letter prompted an investigation that found “no systemic issue of racial … discrimination” and cost taxpayers more than $500,000 across two years.
Council in October 2023 approved an independent investigation into reported allegations of racism and discrimination by and against city employees in recent years.
Eight months later, members hired former FBI agent Scott Curtis, who led the investigation into former Mayor Ed Pawlowski.
Curtis completed dozens of interviews and racked up about $68,000 in legal fees without being paid before council suspended its contract with him in December.
Council a month later hired Duane Morris LLC to lead a somewhat-reined-in investigation.
Duane Morris is set to make more than $375,000 for five months of work on its policy probe.
And a power struggle between council and the mayor over Curtis’ investigation ran up a further $113,000 in legal fees.
Resign or be fired: Suit
Shahzad alleges he was fired after refusing to terminate Karen Ocasio, who repeatedly called for an investigation after the NAACP-linked letter was published.
She also told council members she filed discrimination complaints against the city with Pennsylvania's equal-employment and human-relations commissions.
Shahzad evaluated Ocasio’s work performance but “found no deficiencies and declined to terminate her employment,” the lawsuit states.
Tuerk gave Shahzad a resignation letter “in the presence of a city lawyer” and told him “he would be immediately fired if he did not resign. Tuerk then handed [Shahzad] a resignation letter."Nadeem Shahzad lawsuit
It alleges Tuerk gave Shahzad a resignation letter “in the presence of a city lawyer” and told him “he would be immediately fired if he did not resign.”
“Tuerk then handed [Shahzad] a resignation letter," the lawsuit states. It says Shahzad signed it.
Tuerk fired Ocasio in November 2023; that prompted a City Council no-confidence vote in the mayor a month later.
Shahzad also alleges Tuerk used a racially motivated slur against him on multiple occasions.
Allentown spokesperson Genesis Ortega on Tuesday said the city does not comment on pending litigation.
