Greene vs. PHA suit on hold

Court proceedings were recessed for at least two days in the federal civil lawsuit against the Philadelphia Housing Authority by PHA executive director Carl R. Greene - who was fired in September 2010 and now contends that the agency owes him $743,000 in lost pay, plus damages.

Court officials said the hearings would not reconvene until at least Wednesday. One source said only that "the parties are talking." The trials, which started Feb. 4 before U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter, was interrupted last week for a settlement conference, court records show.

The trial, expected to last three weeks, is to determine whether PHA was justified in firing Greene. PHA says Greene was fired for failing to report sexual harassment complaints against him by women who worked at the agency. PHA has paid more than $1 million to settle complaints by four women.