NJLAD allows personal liability for aiding and abetting

Supervisors and managers, take note: You may be personally liable for aiding and abetting discrimination that is illegal under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD). 

Recent case: Dennis Carlson sued the township of Lower Alloways Creek and the mayor, claiming that the mayor was personally liable for aiding and abetting his employer’s alleged discrimination.

Carlson claimed he had been targeted for punishment after he complained that other older employees were being discriminated against. Carlson sued the mayor personally when he was fired (with no reason given) shortly after filing an EEOC complaint.

The court said there was enough evidence for a trial. Carlson has shown that the mayor was directly involved in the entire process and could not come up with a nondiscriminatory reason for the discharge. (Carlson v. Township of Lower Alloways Creek, et al., No. 06-3779, DC NJ, 2008)