N.J. Community Hires Legal Firm to Represent Chief in Discrimination Suit
Oct. 18--BUENA BOROUGH -- Borough Council decided Monday to hire a law firm to represent police Chief David Sherma in a federal lawsuit alleging the local police department regularly discriminated against Hispanics over the past two years.
In a special meeting, the council voted 3-1 after an hourlong closed-session discussion to hire Cooper Levenson to defend Sherma in a case filed in September by Ronald Bonilla, a Puerto Rican officer on the 10-man force.
Bonilla alleges a series of discriminatory incidents since being hired in August 2009, including officers openly talking about how they target Hispanics for traffic tickets and ostracizing him because of his Hispanic heritage.
He seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney's fees and other relief that the court deems necessary from seven claims he filed for relief of a hostile work environment, retaliation and racial harassment in violation of state and federal laws.
He remains employed by the department, although he is on a leave of absence due to injuries suffered to his hand and knee while on duty in January.
The borough also is named in the case, and is being represented by the Barker, Scott, Gelfand & James law firm of Northfield.
Borough Solicitor Robert DeSanto said the municipality must now issue a response to the allegations, and a scheduling conference will be held to lay out a timeline for the case, which will be heard in the U.S. District Court in Camden.
The resolution council approved Monday states that the agreement with Cooper Levenson should not exceed $10,000. Councilman David Zappariello cast the sole vote against the agreement.
Contact Lee Procida:
609-457-8707
Copyright 2011 - The Press of Atlantic City, Pleasantville, N.J.
