Ex-detective sues Glouco prosecutor

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Ex-detective sues Glouco prosecutor

Thursday, July 20, 2006

http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20060720/NEWS01/607200404/1006

By TIM ZATZARINY JR.

Courier-Post Staff

Cherry Hill Courier Post, NJ

WOODBURY

A former detective for the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office

alleges in a lawsuit he was forced into retirement after he

repeatedly complained about working conditions in the office of the

prosecutor's Narcotics Task Force.

Reichert, 43, of Woodbury, contends that exposure to toxic

mold in the office affected his speech, making it difficult for him

to do his job.

In February 2000, the task force moved into a separate office on

Glover Street in Woodbury. Reichert contends he began complaining

about the working conditions soon after, but his superiors ignored

his concerns. By April 2004, " plaintiff's speech became strained at

times and difficult to understand, " according to the lawsuit filed

Monday in Superior Court.

The following January, Reichert was transferred to a nonsupervisory

administrative position in another building. The position required

Reichert to talk more often than in his previous job, the lawsuit

contends.

That same month, Reichert filed a discrimination complaint with the

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

This April, the commission dismissed Reichert's complaint, stating

that it was unable to conclude based on an investigation that the

Prosector's Office violated employment laws.

" The Prosecutor's Office took every step to accommodate Mr.

Reichert's disability, " said Tambussi, labor counsel for

Gloucester County. " The EEOC agreed and dismissed his charge and the

Prosecutor's Office stands by that determination. "

In June 2005, Reichert was placed on involuntary sick leave,

allegedly due to his speech handicap, according to the lawsuit.

Although a doctor determined he could return to work in a position

where his talking would be limited, the Prosecutor's Office refused

to reasonably accommodate him, the lawsuit states.

When Reichert's accrued sick and vacation time expired, he was

forced to retire on July 1 of this year.

Named as co-defendants in the lawsuit are Prosecutor F. Dalton,

who took office in June 2002; Nadine A. Reese, chief of detectives

for the Prosector's Office; and Sullivan, deputy chief of

detectives.

In his complaint, Reichert seeks reinstatement to his job and back

pay as well as unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

Reach Tim Zatzariny Jr. at (856) 251-3341 or

tzatzariny@...