Jersey City to settle harassment case

by Earl Morgan
Monday August 18, 2008, 8:34 PM

The Jersey City City Council is expected to OK a $400,000 settlement Wednesday with a veteran woman police officer who sued the police department for harassment and sexual discrimination three years ago, officials said today.

The suit was filed by 25-year officer Marisa Johnston, who accused former Police Chief Robert Troy, among others, of creating a hostile work environment while he was her superior in the department's Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

During today's City Council caucus Bill Matsikoudis, the city's top attorney, said litigating could cost the city upwards of $300,000, so it was prudent to settle.

Matsikoudis refused to discuss specific allegations made in the lawsuit. Neither Troy, who retired a couple years ago, nor his attorney, could be reached for comment.

In her lawsuit, Johnston alleges she was routinely subjected to "sexually graphic" material and was treated much differently than her male peers.

Her 27-page suit details a number of internal complaints that she claims amounted to a pattern of sexual discrimination and uncomfortable work conditions that went unchecked by supervisors.

Johnston's lawsuit was one of two filed simultaneously against Troy in 2005.

The other court action was brought by another female cop, Valerie Montone. This case is still pending.

Montone, a 25 year cop, who is still a member of the JCPD, with the rank of sergeant, named Troy and Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy in her lawsuit She claimed Healy and Troy blocked her from moving up in rank after both she and Johnston supported former Assemblyman Louis Manzo when he opposed Healy in the 2004 mayoral race.

3 cops' suits against chief could cost city $2M-plus
Friday, March 24, 2006
By JARRETT RENSHAW
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Lawsuits accusing Jersey City's top cop of abusing his power could cost the city upwards of $2 million.

Officer Marisa Johnston and Detective Mark Razzoli both stated in notices they have filed with the city that they are seeking at least $1 million each in damages.

Sgt. Valerie Montone, a third officer suing Chief Robert Troy and a host of others, refused to provide a specific amount in her tort claim notice, instead leaving the amount of damages to be determined by a jury at trial should she win her case.

Though all three officers have filed separate lawsuits, they all claim their job conditions suffered after they publicly supported Assemblyman Lou Manzo, D-Jersey City, in his run against Mayor Jerramiah Healy in the 2004 special election.

Montone, whose controversial police tenure includes a previous lawsuit against the city that ended in a six-figure settlement, also names Healy in her complaint.

Among other things, Montone claims Healy and Troy punished her for allegedly handing out naked photos of the mayor at Healy's daughter's wedding - she denies doing so.

Wednesday, the City Council unanimously approved a $50,000 contract with attorney Domenick Carmagnola to defend Troy and other municipal employees.

Carmagnola will be paid $125 per hour, with the total amount not to exceed $50,000, according to the resolution that authorized the contract. Carmagnola also will be reimbursed for a number of expenses.

Councilman Steven Fulop, who asked for Troy's resignation earlier this year, said despite his concerns about the Police Department, he supported the hiring of an outside attorney.

"I still have my problems with the running of the Police Department, but he's an employee of the city and it's our responsibility to support him," said Fulop.