A former Bayonne City Hall employee who had a $500,000 verdict overturned by a judge has filed to be heard by the Superior Court of New Jersey Appellate Division.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The 11-page notice of appeal, filed by Ross’ attorney in the matter, Juan Cervantes, is largely just a formality to alert the court, defendants, and attorneys in the case, with no legal argument provided since one is not necessary yet.
Ross filed a lawsuit in Hudson County Superior Court all the way back on December 6th, 2019, alleging that City Hall was “a sexually charged hostile work environment and a culture of sex within the work place.”
A Hudson County jury awarded her half a million dollars after determining she was subjected to a hostile work environment on May 1st.
However, Hudson County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Espinales-Maloney vacated the jury award on May 5th, both as HCV first reported.
“Namely, there is no evidence in this trial record showing that the City employees’ conduct unreasonably interfered with Plaintiff’s work performance to have ‘altered the working conditions,'” she wrote in her memorandum of decision.
“On the contrary, the Court finds that the evidence demonstrates that, from the outset of Plaintiff’s employment with the City, on or around October of 2018, problems ensued. Specifically, the evidence demonstrates that Ms. Ross had excessive absences, refused to listen to Ms. Vanderweerden’s instructions, and treated residents poorly.”
City spokesman did not return an email seeking comment, though the city typically does not comment on pending litigation or personnel decisions.
