Proposed Settlement For Berkeley Discrimination Suit Rejected

BERKELEY, NJ — Berkeley Township will have to pay a township employee $1.6 million in a defamation lawsuit decision, but the employee had previously proposed a $400K settlement, her lawyer told Patch.

Debra Reuter, supervisor of the Berkeley Township Recreation Department, filed a lawsuit in 2018 saying that officials including Mayor Carmen Amato and Business Administrator John Camera had discriminated against and harassed her for being Jewish and having anxiety.

In May, a jury found that Reuter was discriminated against and that "the conduct was severe or pervasive enough to make a reasonable person who has a mental disability believe the working environment was intimidating, hostile or abusive," according to court documents. Read more: $1.6M In Damages Awarded In Berkeley Discrimination Lawsuit

However, a few months before trial, a settlement was proposed to Berkeley officials, Reuter's attorney Crystal Dozier told Patch.

All parties approved the six-figure settlement, Dozier said, but Berkeley Township Council rejected it "for whatever reason."

At the trial, the jury acknowledged that there were anti-Semitic remarks made towards Reuter, Dozier said. However, they did not agree that the hostile environment was because she was Jewish, just from her anxiety and depression along with harassment from officials.

Berkeley Township's attorney Christopher Dasti previously told Patch that the township does not discriminate based on religion.

"The town intends to appeal the decision and get the verdict tossed out," Dasti said.

Amato, one of the officials named in the suit, is currently running for State Senate. According to the lawsuit, the named officials either directly harassed Reuter or allowed the harassment to happen. Dozier said that with Reuter being harassed, Amato "can't properly manage his supervisions" and isn't fit to run for higher office.

Reuter was "truly broken up" over the lawsuit, Dozier said.

"I know she felt a victory," Dozier said. "A good feeling of finally being heard by someone else."