The City of Harrisburg has agreed to pay $150,000 to settle a wrongful termination and nepotism lawsuit brought by the city's former public works director — closing one of several legal battles involving Mayor Wanda Williams during her time in office.
According to an announcement made Tuesday (March 17) by city spokesperson Mischelle Moyer, the city reached the agreement with former public works director Nathaniel Spriggs, who first filed suit in September 2022. City Solicitor Neil Grover confirmed the $150,000 payment and noted the two parties had not yet finalized the language of the agreement. As part of the deal, the city does not admit any wrongdoing.
Spriggs, who joined the city as public works director in 2021 under former Mayor Eric Papenfuse, alleged in his lawsuit that Williams pressured him to give preferential treatment to her relatives — including creating positions for her son, granddaughter, and nephew. He claimed that when he refused, she fired him. The suit also alleged Williams used her position to build a taxpayer-funded jobs program for family members, a charge she has consistently denied.
Williams said the decision to settle came at the recommendation of the city's insurance carrier. "While I stood ready to present the facts in a courtroom, I respect the guidance provided to protect taxpayer resources," she said in a press release. "At the end of the day, my responsibility is to the residents of Harrisburg, and that includes making prudent financial decisions."
The mayor added that she is glad the matter is behind the city. "I am glad to have this matter behind us so we can remain focused on the work that truly matters — strengthening our neighborhoods, supporting our residents, and continuing the progress we have made across Harrisburg," she said.
Williams had previously pushed back on the nepotism allegations during a March 2025 press conference, saying her son had worked for the city for 10 years "long before" she took office. She also disputed claims made in a PennLive report, though the outlet's senior content director, Teresa Bonner, said the publication stood by its reporting and noted that Williams had mischaracterized what the story actually said.
The Spriggs settlement is not the only legal matter Williams has navigated in recent years. Last year, Williams settled a separate ethics case in which the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission found she directed Spriggs to have city employees deliver a city-owned dumpster to her home for personal use — a service that would have cost a private resident $1,491.18. She agreed there was sufficient evidence to support a violation of state ethics laws and paid $912.70 to the city, though more than a month after the payment was due.
Williams is currently seeking re-election as Harrisburg's mayor. She faces several challengers, including city treasurer Dan Miller, city councilman Lamont Jones, community organizer Tone Cook, and former candidate Lewis Butts.