A Case of Retaliation, Discrimination, and Misconduct filed against the City of Trenton

In a legal dispute that has drawn attention to allegations of workplace misconduct and retaliation within the City of Trenton, former Assistant City Attorney, Sally Samuel, has filed a formal claim for damages against the City. The claim, submitted in November 2024, highlights troubling events culminating in Samuel’s termination from the City’s Law Department. The case raises serious concerns about retaliation, gender discrimination, and the violation of workers’ rights, especially as Samuel had been an outspoken advocate for transparency and legal compliance within the City’s Housing and Economic Development programs.

Sally Samuel worked as an Assistant City Attorney for Trenton from February 2020 until her termination on August 30, 2024. Samuel, an attorney with experience in housing law and real estate planning, was hired to collaborate with the Department of Housing and Economic Development. Her job involved addressing critical issues in the City’s Neighborhood Rehabilitation and Revitalization Program (NRRP), a program that has come under scrutiny for alleged corruption and mismanagement.

Throughout 2024, Samuel became embroiled in several high-profile legal matters, many of which she argues led to retaliation from City officials. For example, she cooperated with a state investigation into corruption involving the NRRP, raised concerns about violations of local building laws, and opposed an internal push to bypass the City’s transparent property auction process. She also worked on behalf of other employees to address grievances related to workplace harassment and discrimination.

A Hostile Work Environment

According to Samuel, her objections and legal actions put her directly in conflict with key figures within the City government. One of the primary sources of this conflict she claims was her involvement in exposing a hostile workplace, particularly within the Housing and Economic Development Department. Samuel alleges that Massiel Ferrara, the former Director of Housing and Economic Development, was at the center of creating a toxic work environment. In return, Ferrara reportedly retaliated against Samuel by unlawfully sharing confidential medical information about her in violation of HIPAA regulations and attempting to undermine her credibility within the department.

Samuel claims that her complaints about Ferrara’s behavior went unaddressed by City officials, which she argues was the City’s unwillingness to take action against internal misconduct. This situation reached a breaking point in July 2024, when Ferrara resigned, only for City officials to suggest that she would be brought back in another capacity following  Samuel’s wrongful termination, Samuel’s tort claim revealed.

Gender Discrimination and Retaliation Sally Samuel

In addition to claims of workplace hostility, Samuel accuses the City’s Law Director, Wesley Bridges, of gender-based discrimination and harassment. Samuel asserts that Bridges displayed a pattern of sexist behavior, including belittling her professional capabilities, insulting her in front of colleagues, and questioning the legitimacy of her work-related injuries. Furthermore, she claims that female attorneys were systematically pushed out of the City Attorney’s Office under Bridges’ leadership, leaving the office with no female attorneys as of Samuel’s departure.

Samuel maintains that her engagement in legally protected activities, such as reporting workplace violations and participating in investigations into corruption, combined with her gender, made her a target for discrimination and retaliation, which ultimately led to her firing. In her termination letter, the City cited “unauthorized use of a City vehicle” as the reason for her dismissal, a charge Samuel asserts is unfounded and was merely a pretext for her termination. 

In her claim, Samuels also points to a pattern of malicious interference with her contract and economic opportunities, as well as defamation and false accusations aimed at discrediting her professional reputation. One of the most egregious aspects of the case, according to Samuel, is the disproportionate punishment she faced compared to other City employees who engaged in far more serious misconduct. Her termination, she claims, was a calculated move to silence her objections to corruption and legal violations within the City’s housing programs.

Legal Implications and Future Steps

In her claim, Samuel outlines several causes of action, including violations of the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA), the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD), and constitutional claims under Section 1983 for due process and First Amendment violations. She also intends to pursue claims for malicious interference with her employment contract and prospective economic advantage, as well as the infliction of emotional distress.

The legal battle is ongoing, and the full extent of Samuel’s damages—both economic and emotional—has yet to be determined. Samuel has indicated that she will seek compensatory and punitive damages, including attorney fees, for the harm she has suffered as a result of her wrongful termination and the hostile work environment she endured. Sally Samuel’s claim against the City of Trenton sheds light on serious concerns about workplace discrimination, retaliation, and misconduct within the City’s legal and administrative offices. If proven, these allegations could have far-reaching implications for the City’s practices and policies regarding employee rights, legal compliance, and accountability. Trenton Journal reached out to the City for comment regarding the court filing, but has not heard back at time of publishing.