What to Know
- Three women claim in a lawsuit that Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner discriminated against them on the basis of gender
- The women, who once held managerial positions with the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, also say Tyner engaged in mortgage fraud
- The lawsuit was filed Thursday in state Superior Court
Three women who once held managerial positions with the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office claim in a lawsuit that Prosecutor Damon Tyner discriminated against them on the basis of gender and engaged in mortgage fraud.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in state Superior Court, alleges that Tyner and others in the office created a "toxic" workplace for women, including demoting, firing or forcing out two of the three female plaintiffs.
"It is beyond ironic that Damon Tyner is sworn to uphold and enforce the laws of New Jersey and yet, as we allege in our complaint, Tyner had acted in a way that shows a clear disregard for the rule of law," said Michelle Douglass, a lawyer for the plaintiffs.
Tyner, through a spokeswoman, declined comment.
Diane Ruberton, Donna Fetzer and Heather McManus said they brought the lawsuit after they unsuccessfully tried to address their concerns about unequal treatment of women in the prosecutor's office.
Ruberton, who served as acting prosecutor before Tyner was appointed to the job, was demoted and given a $20,000 pay cut while less qualified male employees were given promotions and raises, the lawsuit asserts. She was later fired. McManus retired, fearing she, too, would be fired, and Fetzer remains with the office, according to the suit.
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They also accuse Tyner of mortgage fraud by involving the sale of his home.
The lawsuit also accuses Tyner and several male officials within the prosecutor's office of other improprieties, including failing to share required information with criminal defense attorneys, possibly outing a confidential informant in a criminal case, and protecting a friend's brother who smuggled marijuana into the county jail.
