Former Township Clerk Lisa Tilton Files Lawsuit Against Galloway

Former Galloway Township Clerk Lisa Tilton has sued the township and other individuals in Atlantic County Superior Court, claiming sexual harassment and other charges.

Tilton is seeking reinstatement to her position as a result of an alleged breach of settlement agreement.

She also iis seeking damages, attorney's fees, costs of suit and "other relief as the Court deems just and proper."

In addition to the Township of Galloway, among those named include Mayor Don Purdy, Deputy Mayor Tony Coppola, former Township Manager Steve Bonanni, and Solicitor Michael Blee, among others.

The 86-page, 27-count suit also includes allegations of:

• violation of fundamental right to privacy;
• breach of contract;
• defamation/slander;
• attempted intimidation and interference with rights secured by state law;
• false light; and
• violations of state Identity Theft Protection Act.

Tilton is being represented by Attorney Steven Srenaski, of Florio Perrucci, Steinhardt and Fader, L.L.C. He could not immediately be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

Blee couldn't immediately be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

The complaint is labeled a complaint and jury demand, meaning Tilton has decided she wants the case to be determined by a jury as opposed to a judge. No dollar amount is named in a complaint and jury demand.

The full list of defendants named in the suit is as follows: the Township of Galloway; former Township Manager Steve Bonanni, in his individual and official capacity; Mayor Don Purdy, in his individual and official capacity; Deputy Mayor Tony Coppola, in his individual and official capacity; current council members Tom Bassford, Jim Gorman, Dennis Kleiner; Brian Tyrrell and Whitney Ullman, each in their individual and official capacities; Township Solicitor Michael Blee in both his capacity with the township and the Law Office of Michael Blee; Township Clerk Thalia Kay, in her official capacity; Registrar of Vital Statistics Carol Hackney, in her official capacity; and former Acting Township Clerk Karen Bacon, in her official capacity.

Tilton was suspended as clerk on June 10, 2011, and reached an agreement with the township to resign on July 18, a resignation that took effect Oct. 3. However, she claims the township has violated that agreement.

She has since filed three tort claim notices against the township, as well as one against Atlantic County and the County Board of Elections. The tort claims combined were worth $9 million.

The suit filed Friday was the first lawsuit filed against the township by Tilton.