Tilton Lawsuit Moved to Cape May County Courts

Former Township Clerk Lisa Tilton’s against Galloway Township will be settled in a Cape May County court, as court officials for both Cape May and Atlantic counties have confirmed the complaint has been transferred.

On May 11, Tilton filed a complaint against the township, that mainly targets former Councilman Dennis Kleiner and former Township Manager Steve Bonanni as “political allies who had a vendetta” against Tilton, which she believes ultimately led to her dismissal from the township.

However, others were named in the lawsuit, including former Township Solicitor Michael Blee, who has been nominated to the State Superior Court by Gov. Chris Christie, and whose presence in the complaint likely led to a conflict of interest that would’ve resulted in the complaint being moved out of the county, an Atlantic County court official believed.

The Cape May County Courthouse has received the complaint, but no additional responses that may have been made since the complaint was filed, according to Cape May County court officials.

Tilton is seeking a rescindment of the Settlement Agreement and Release agreed to on and, she claims, later violated by the township, and a reinstatement to the township with back pay, benefits and all other emoluments of her employment, as well as compensatory damages, counsel fees, costs and interest, and any other future relief deemed “just and proper” by the judge.

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, Brian Tyrrell and Whitney Ullman, each in their individual and official capacities; former councilman Dennis Kleiner; former 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.