McOmber McOmber & Luber, P.C., a leading law firm renowned for its expertise in employment and civil litigation, has filed a whistleblower retaliation and disability discrimination lawsuit on behalf of Pamela Steele against the Township of Wyckoff. This case has attracted various media attention due to the serious allegations of retaliation and wrongful suspension faced by Ms. Steele after reporting violations of the law and requesting to work from home as an accommodation for her serious medical issue.
Case Overview
The lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey, alleges that the Township of Wyckoff subjected Ms. Steele to clear retaliation after she complained about Wyckoff’s failure to provide her with raises to which she was statutorily entitled and requested to continue working remotely as an accommodation for her serious medical condition. As alleged in the Complaint, despite a clear lack of legal authority to do so, the Township of Wyckoff suspended Ms. Steele without pay and subsequently filed a petition with the New Jersey Division of Taxation to remove Ms. Steele as its municipal tax assessor.
Allegations
The complaint outlines several key allegations:
- Retaliation: Ms. Steele experienced adverse employment actions, including unjust suspension and termination of her medical benefits, after she reported the Township of Wyckoff’s repeated failure to provide her with statutorily mandated raises to her superiors.
- Disability Discrimination: Due to her ongoing serious medical issues, including lung cancer, Ms. Steele requested to work from home; however, rather than accommodating Ms. Steele’s request in that regard, the Township of Wyckoff instead retaliated against her by suspending her employment and terminating her medical benefits.
- Disregard of New Jersey State Authorities: The lawsuit asserts that the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Taxation dispatched correspondence to the Township of Wyckoff (1) specifically advising that Wyckoff did not have the legal authority to suspend Ms. Steele without pay and terminate her medical benefits and (2) requesting that the Township of Wyckoff rescind its decision in that regard. As alleged in the Complaint, the Township of Wyckoff’s animus towards Ms. Steele was no severe that that they disregarded the Division of Taxation and, in turn, they now face a separate lawsuit filed by the Attorney General of New Jersey, Division of Taxation in connection with same. Said lawsuit, which is also pending in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Bergen Vicinage, alleges that the Township of Wyckoff’s decision to suspend Ms. Steele and terminate her benefits violates statutory law.
Legal Representation
McOmber McOmber & Luber, P.C.’s dedicated legal team, led by partners R. Armen McOmber, Esq. and Austin B. Tobin, Esq. and associate Christian J. Fechter, Esq., is committed to advocating for Ms. Steele’s rights. The firm’s extensive experience handling complex whistleblower and employment law cases uniquely positions them to seek justice and accountability.
“Whistleblowers play a crucial role in maintaining transparency and safety in workplaces. Retaliation against individuals who courageously report wrongdoing cannot be tolerated,” said Christian Fechter. “We are determined to ensure that the Township of Wyckoff is held accountable for its actions against Ms. Steele.”