Hamilton Township CFO Files CEPA Act Complaint

Hamilton Township Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has filed a complaint in Mercer County Superior Court against the township Mayor, the Business Administrator, and the Chief of Staff. The complaint alleges that the CFO is a whistleblower protected by the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA). This act, makes it illegal for private employers to retaliate against employees who reveal, disagree with, or refuse to participate in practices that the employee believes to be illegal.  Specifically, the CFO alleges that he complained to law enforcement and the State Local Finance Board about the defendants in the past, as he believes the defendants were making illegal purchases while he was out sick and unable to approve them. The CFO alleges he is being retaliated against and harassed for his CEPA protected complaints to law enforcement.

According to NJ.Com, the mayor claims the lawsuit is a result of the tenure charges brought against the CFO due to his other employment, working as a financial consultant for Spring Lake Heights, where he makes anywhere from $60,000 to $115,000 annually in addition to the $136,000.00 salary he makes as the Chief Financial Officer in Hamilton Township.

Retaliation cases are hard for employers to deal with and New Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) is one of the broadest whistleblower’s statutes in the United States.

The attorneys at Vlasac and Shmaruk will be happy to work with you to understand CEPA as it applies to your business.  Give us a call if you have any questions about this or any other employment related matters.