Court Opinion

ID: 9951056
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-15 15:21:05.612815+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:36:52.998913
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                               APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
        This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the
     internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                                        SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                        APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                        DOCKET NO. A-2426-21

KENNETH REID,

          Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.

CITY OF PLAINFIELD,
and CARL RILEY,

          Defendants-Respondents,

and

ADRIAN MAPP,

          Defendant.

                   Submitted February 12, 2024 – Decided March 15, 2024

                   Before Judges Mawla and Marczyk.

                   On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
                   Division, Union County, Docket No. L-3967-17.

                   O'Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble, LLC, attorneys for
                   appellant (Gregory Brian Noble and Robert Arthur
                   Ballard, III, of counsel and on the brief).
            Rainone Coughlin Minchello, LLC, attorneys for
            respondent City of Plainfield (John F. Gillick, of
            counsel and on the brief).

            Antonelli Kantor Rivera, attorneys for respondent Carl
            Riley (Daniel Antonelli, of counsel and on the brief;
            Richard Joseph Birch, on the brief).

PER CURIAM

      Plaintiff Kenneth Reid appeals from the trial court's January 11, 2022

summary judgment order dismissing his second amended complaint against

defendants the City of Plainfield, the Plainfield Police Department ("Plainfield

PD"), and the Director of the Plainfield PD Carl Riley, with prejudice.1 Plaintiff

further appeals the trial court's March 4, 2022 order denying his motion for

reconsideration. We affirm.

                                        I.

      Plaintiff was employed by the Plainfield PD since 1984 and rose to the

rank of lieutenant. At the time of his retirement, he was fifty-eight years old.

Plaintiff was assigned to the Patrol Bureau.

      On December 2, 2015, the Plainfield PD was dispatched for a single motor

vehicle accident involving an intoxicated driver. Officer Stephen Bailey and

1
  Plaintiff does not appeal the trial court's order granting summary judgment
and dismissing the complaint as to Mayor Adrian Mapp.
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                                        2
Sergeant Scott Gwinn noted the driver was unconscious and unable to

communicate. Suspecting the driver was intoxicated, they requested a blood

draw search warrant ("blood warrant").       Because Officer Bailey had never

applied for a blood warrant, Sergeant Gwinn called in Officer Carl-Magnus

Kallner to assist. While Officer Kallner began the paperwork, Officer Bailey

searched for the driver's identification but was only able to locate the vehicle's

registration.

      The two officers then called a Union County Assistant Prosecutor, who

asked if they could positively identify the driver. The Assistant Prosecutor

advised she would not approve the warrant without properly identifying the

driver. Officer Bailey, at the direction of Officer Kallner, later misrepresented

they had obtained the driver's identity, and a search warrant was issued. Officer

Kallner admitted he coached Officer Bailey to tell the prosecutor there was a

positive identification when in fact there was none.

      After returning from the hospital, Officer Bailey felt uncomfortable with

what occurred and advised plaintiff, his commanding officer. Plaintiff advised

Bailey he had a personal relationship with the Assistant Prosecutor and that he

would contact her the following morning about what occurred.            However,

plaintiff never contacted the Assistant Prosecutor. Five days later, Officer

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                                        3
Bailey went to the Prosecutor's Office, believing plaintiff had already contacted

the office, and apologized to the prosecutor involved with the issuance of the

warrant.   She advised Bailey she had no idea what had transpired.             The

Prosecutor's Office subsequently conducted an investigation. On February 2,

2016, the Prosecutor's Office advised Director Riley it had decided not to pursue

criminal charges, but because plaintiff had not notified the Prosecutor's Office,

it recommended administrative discipline against him and the other officers for

their respective involvement in the incident.

      In late January 2016, just before the internal affairs investigation

commenced for the blood warrant episode, Director Riley brought separate

disciplinary charges against plaintiff for "failing to properly supervise" Sergeant

Gwinn, who allegedly spent a significant amount of time engaged in prohibited

computer activity while on duty. Plaintiff was ultimately charged for failing to

submit a report requested by his supervisor, Captain Kevin O'Brien, 2 as well as

failing to supervise Sergeant Gwinn, and was given a four-hour suspension on

February 2, 2016. Plaintiff contends this was the beginning of defendants

building a case against him to force him to retire. During this time period and

2
  As of January 11, 2016, Captain O'Brien had been assigned as plaintiff's
supervisor in the Patrol Bureau. Captain O'Brien requested a report regarding
Gwinn's prohibited computer activity.
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                                        4
shortly before plaintiff went on sick leave in early February 2016, plaintiff

alleges that Lieutenant Craig Venson, at the request of Captain O'Brien, asked

him his age and suggested he should retire.

       On February 11, 2016, approximately a week after the Plainfield PD's

internal affairs unit initiated an investigation regarding the December 2015

blood warrant, plaintiff was admitted to the hospital for what he described as a

"minor stroke." While he was hospitalized, Director Riley and another officer

visited him. During the visit, plaintiff testified Director Riley and the other

officer asked him how old he was and when he was considering retirement. He

testified Director Riley also referenced the disciplinary charges and told him

these charges could "all go away" if he retired. Plaintiff interpreted these

statements as a threat. Director Riley also testified that while he was speaking

to plaintiff in the hospital, the concepts of retirement and plaintiff 's pending

disciplinary action were discussed but that retirement was first brough t up by

plaintiff.

       On February 24, 2016, plaintiff received a preliminary notice of

disciplinary charges pending a final hearing regarding the blood warrant

incident. The notice alleged he failed to: take appropriate action concerning

illegal activity; provide proper training; report perjury; and report to the

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                                       5
Director. It also stated he provided misleading information to the Prosecutor's

Office. Plaintiff was charged with conduct unbecoming of a public employee,

N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.3(a)(6), and other sufficient cause for failing to properly

supervise, N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.3(a)(12). Director Riley authorized the notice of

disciplinary action, wherein he sought to demote plaintiff to the position of

sergeant.

      After Director Riley spoke to plaintiff at the hospital, plaintiff's sister and

her friend organized multiple rallies with members of the community to show

support for plaintiff because he thought he was being discriminated against.

Plaintiff's son, who is a Franklin Township police officer, attended one of the

rallies. After his son spoke at the rally, plaintiff testified that two members of

the Franklin Township Police Department approached plaintiff at his house to

tell him that a member of the Plainfield PD sent them a tape of his son speaking

in an effort to have his son suspended. During his deposition, Lieutenant

William Tyler of the Plainfield PD admitted he reached out to the Franklin

Township Police Department concerning plaintiff's son's involvement in the

rally, citing a "safety concern." Lieutenant Tyler was not present at the rally but

received that information from Captain O'Brien.

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                                         6
      On April 29, 2016, plaintiff and the City, including the Plainfield PD,

entered into a stipulation of settlement that resolved the disciplinary charges.

Plaintiff was represented by counsel. Under the settlement, plaintiff agreed to

retire and withdraw his request for a hearing regarding the disciplinary charges.

He acknowledged he "did not engage in the proper supervision of subordinates,"

and he did not advise the Prosecutor's Office or others about the "seriousness

and inadequacy of the investigation and conduct of subordinate officers under

[his] command." The settlement provided the Plainfield PD would withdraw all

pending disciplinary charges against plaintiff, and he could retire in "good

standing."

      Plaintiff alleges he was forced to retire and was replaced by either Officer

David Belle or Officer Christopher Sylvester, both of whom were promoted to

lieutenant in February 2017.     They were also both younger than plaintiff.

Defendants note that seven months after plaintiff's retirement, Officer Belle was

transferred to plaintiff's former platoon and eventually promoted to lieutenant

based on a civil service exam given in 2014. Moreover, Officer Belle did not

replace plaintiff, because plaintiff had been transferred from patrol to the

administrative bureau in March 2016.

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                                        7
        In addition to the February hospital incident, plaintiff claims Director

Riley would randomly ask him how old he was and when he was going to retire.

He also claims he had diabetes, coronary artery disease, and hypertension, and

this was known within the Plainfield PD. However, after plaintiff's February

2016 hospitalization, and prior to his May 2016 retirement, he did not request

any accommodation or light duty assignment. He was also not aware of any

physician indicating he was disabled or unable to return to work. 3

        Plaintiff retired on May 1, 2016. He testified he was forced to sign the

stipulation and retire rather than face a demotion because Director Riley told

him, "this can all go away." After his retirement, plaintiff received an audio

recording of Director Riley that was recorded by Jeffrey Courtney, a firefighter

with the City. In the recording, Director Riley made the statement, "Chief

Tidwell[4] thinks he's Teflon. . . . [Plaintiff has] been Teflon for years but look

where he's at." During his deposition, Director Riley confirmed that he made

that statement, but it regarded a situation where he transferred plaintiff to a

3
   Plaintiff did produce an expert report regarding his disability, which was
mentioned by the trial court. Defendants assert this report was not produced in
discovery. We need not address this issue because our decision does not turn
on plaintiff's alleged disability.
4
    This is a reference to then Plainfield City Fire Chief Frank Tidwell.
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                                         8
patrol shift, not this present situation where plaintiff retired after the disciplinary

charges. Later in his deposition, Director Riley testified that the phrase "look

where he's at" was a reference to the fact that he had brought disciplinary charges

against plaintiff, and plaintiff retired.

        In November 2017, plaintiff filed a complaint against the City, the

Plainfield PD, Mayor Mapp, and Director Riley. In March 2018, plaintiff filed

a second amended complaint. He alleged defendants violated the New Jersey

Law Against Discrimination ("LAD"), N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 to -50, by engaging in

age discrimination and forcing him to retire. He also alleged defendants created

a hostile work environment based on his "disability and/or perceived disability"

forcing him into retirement. Plaintiff further asserted defendants are liable for

"aiding and abetting" under the LAD.

        In December 2019, defendants5 moved for summary judgment. The trial

court,6 in essence, found plaintiff's claims were contractually barred due to the

stipulation of settlement entered into between the parties. In September 2021,

we reversed, holding plaintiff was not contractually barred from asserting LAD

claims in this matter because the release was limited to claims "with respect to

5
    Director Riley is represented by separate counsel.
6
    A different judge granted these initial summary judgment motions.
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                                            9
the subject matter of [the] disciplinary action." See Reid v. City of Plainfield,

No. A-2691-19 (App. Div. Sept. 14, 2021) (slip op. at 9). Because the trial court

had not addressed the remaining LAD claims, we remanded for further

proceedings. Id. at 10.

      In November 2021, defendants again moved for summary judgment. On

January 11, 2022, the trial court granted their motions for summary judgment

and dismissed plaintiff's second amended complaint with prejudice. Plaintiff

moved for reconsideration. On March 4, 2022, the court denied the motion for

reconsideration.

                                       II.

      Plaintiff argues the trial court failed to appreciate that defendants'

harassment was severe and pervasive. He contends the trial court failed to

properly consider the harsh punishment sought as a result of the internal affairs

investigation was a constructive discharge.       Further, the court failed to

appreciate the evidence that Director Riley actively and purposely discriminated

against and harassed him thereby causing him to resign. 7

7
  Plaintiff does not appeal from the trial court's order dismissing Counts I (LAD
age discrimination) and II (LAD hostile work environment discrimination for
disability and/or perceived disability) as to Director Riley. Therefore, the only
count regarding Director Riley on appeal is Count III (aiding and abetting).
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                                      10
      In reviewing a summary judgment decision, we measure the motion

court's findings and conclusions against the standards laid out in Brill v.

Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America, 142 N.J. 520 (1995). Great Atl. &

Pac. Tea Co. v. Checchio, 335 N.J. Super. 495, 498 (App. Div. 2000). Those

standards are well-established: summary judgment should be granted when "the

pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories and admissions on file,

together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any

material fact challenged and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment or

order as a matter of law." Brill, 142 N.J. at 528-29 (quoting R. 4:46-2(c)). Issues

of law are subject to the de novo standard of review, and the trial court's

determination of such issues is accorded no deference. Kaye v. Rosefielde, 223

N.J. 218, 229 (2015).

      "Motions for reconsideration are governed by Rule 4:49-2, which

provides . . . the decision to grant or deny a motion for reconsideration rests

within the sound discretion of the trial court." Pitney Bowes Bank, Inc. v. ABC

Caging    Fulfillment,   440   N.J.   Super.   378,   382   (App.    Div.   2015).

"Reconsideration should be used only where '1) the [c]ourt has expressed its

decision based upon a palpably incorrect or irrational basis, or 2) it is

obvious . . . the [c]ourt either did not consider, or failed to appreciate the

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                                       11
significance of probative, competent evidence.'" Ibid. (alterations in original)

(quoting Capital Fin. Co. of Del. Valley v. Asterbadi, 398 N.J. Super. 299, 310

(App. Div. 2008)). Therefore, an appellate court will not disturb a trial court's

decision on a motion for reconsideration unless there is a clear abuse of

discretion. Ibid.

      The LAD provides, in relevant part:

                   It shall be an unlawful employment practice, or,
            as the case may be, an unlawful discrimination:

                  a. For an employer, because of . . . age . . . [or]
            disability . . . to refuse to hire or employ or to bar or to
            discharge or require to retire, unless justified by lawful
            considerations other than age, from employment such
            individual or to discriminate against such individual in
            compensation or in terms, conditions or privileges of
            employment . . . .

            [N.J.S.A. 10:5-12(a).]

To establish a prima facie case of age discrimination, "an employee must 'show

that the prohibited consideration . . . played a role in the decision[-]making

process and that it had a determinative influence on the outcome of that

process.'" Bergen Com. Bank v. Sisler, 157 N.J. 188, 207 (1999) (quoting

Maiorino v. Schering-Plough Corp., 302 N.J. Super. 323, 344 (App. Div. 1997)).

      To prove employment discrimination under the LAD, New Jersey courts

have adopted the burden-shifting analytical framework established in

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                                       12
McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 802 (1973), and Viscik v.

Fowler Equipment Co., 173 N.J. 1, 13-14 (2002). Within the context of an age

discrimination claim brought under the LAD, plaintiffs must show that: 1) they

were members of a protected group; 2) their job performance met their

"employer's legitimate expectations"; 3) they were terminated; and 4) the

employer replaced or sought to replace them. Nini v. Mercer Cnty. Cmty. Coll.,

406 N.J. Super. 547, 554 (App. Div. 2009) (quoting Zive v. Stanley Roberts,

Inc., 182 N.J. 436, 450 (2005)), aff'd, 202 N.J. 98 (2010).

      In ruling on the summary judgment motion, the court determined Director

Riley's conduct at the hospital did not rise to severe and pervasive so as to

constitute a hostile work environment. "And, [it] certainly, [did] not [rise to the

level] of constructive discharge" because plaintiff did not contest the

disciplinary action stemming from the blood warrant incident.

      On reconsideration, as on appeal here, plaintiff argued the court did not

appreciate or consider other occasions besides the hospital incident where he

was asked about his age and retirement plans. In ruling on the reconsideration

motion, the court addressed plaintiff's severe and pervasive arguments under the

hostile work environment claim and the constructive discharge allegation. The

court noted plaintiff failed to allege "anything that was severe or pervasive.

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                                       13
Under the circumstances of people asking him, . . . how old are you again? When

are you going to retire[?] . . . It just doesn't meet the . . . standard whatsoever."

      The court explained it

             did not fail . . . to appreciate that the record reflects that
             plaintiff was subjected to these comments from co-
             workers that he should retire due to his age. However,
             plaintiff asserts that adverse employment action, a
             required element of hostile work environment suffered
             by plaintiff was being forced to retire, which legally
             culminates to a constructive discharge.

                    . . . [L]ooking at the record, reflecting the
             plaintiff over the course of the years was subjected to
             questions about retirement, and his age, and was visited
             in the hospital by [Director] Riley . . . failed to
             culminate into an adverse employment action pled by
             plaintiff, that is, constructive discharge.

                    . . . [T]he alleged conduct under the totality of the
             circumstances doesn't vault that threshold of
             constructive discharge. Further, plaintiff has not pled
             sufficient facts to suggest that the questions of . . . age
             and retirement . . . plaintiff was subjected to were not
             mere . . . offensive utterances and happened with such
             frequency or severity as to amount to an alteration of
             plaintiff's employment.

                   As such, . . . [the court] just can't find that
             [plaintiff] . . . makes out a cause of action on these facts
             for either hostile work environment or constructive
             discharge, and . . . for those reasons, and with respect,
             the [m]otion for [r]econsideration is denied.

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                                         14
                                        A.

      Plaintiff asserts the trial court ignored the evidence he produced showing

that Director Riley threatened him while he was in his hospital bed, and that this

act alone was enough to establish a genuine issue of material fact. He also

argues the trial court failed to appreciate other evidence of defendants' alleged

harassment. Specifically, that Director Riley and other superior officers began

a campaign suggesting repeatedly, given his age and disability, plaintiff should

retire. Plaintiff argues that when he failed to retire, Director Riley lodged two

disciplinary actions against him for failing to supervise subordinates. He also

notes that when his son protested in support of him, defendants harassed his son

by calling the department where he was employed. Additionally, months after

plaintiff retired, Director Riley admitted that he used the phrase "[plaintiff has]

been Teflon for years but look where he's at" in reference to the fact that he

brought disciplinary charges against plaintiff.

      "Our review of a hostile work environment claim requires us to consider

the totality of the circumstances." El-Sioufi v. St. Peter's Univ. Hosp., 382 N.J.

Super. 145, 178 (App. Div. 2005). To establish a hostile work environment

claim under the LAD, a plaintiff must satisfy each prong of a four-part test.

Shepherd v. Hunterdon Developmental Ctr., 174 N.J. 1, 24 (2002). The plaintiff

                                                                             A-2426-21
                                       15
must establish "the complained-of conduct (1) would not have occurred but for

the employee's protected status, and was (2) severe or pervasive enough to make

a (3) reasonable person believe that (4) the conditions of employment have been

altered and that the working environment is hostile or abusive." Ibid.

      Under the severe and pervasive prong, "[i]t is the harasser's conduct,

not . . . plaintiff's injury, that must be severe or pervasive." Lehmann v. Toys

'R' Us, Inc., 132 N.J. 587, 610 (1993). Whether conduct is severe or pervasive

is evaluated under the totality of the circumstances, assessing, "(1) 'the

frequency of all the discriminatory conduct'; (2) 'its severity'; (3) 'whether it is

physically threatening or humiliating, or a mere offensive utterance'; and (4)

'whether it unreasonably interferes with an employee's work performance.'"

Godfrey v. Princeton Theological Seminary, 196 N.J. 178, 196 (2008) (quoting

Green v. Jersey City Bd. of Educ., 177 N.J. 434, 447 (2003)).

      The inquiry is whether a reasonable person in a plaintiff's position would

consider the alleged discriminatory conduct "to be sufficiently severe or

pervasive to alter the conditions of employment and create an intimidating,

hostile or offensive working environment." El-Sioufi, 382 N.J. Super. at 178

(quoting Heitzman v. Monmouth Cnty., 321 N.J. Super. 133, 147 (App. Div.

1999)). The test is strictly objective. Godfrey, 196 N.J. at 197.

                                                                              A-2426-21
                                        16
      The trial court correctly found plaintiff did not establish a hostile work

environment claim.      Defendants' interactions with plaintiff fall short of

threatening or humiliating conduct. We are unconvinced the trial court erred in

failing to appreciate plaintiff's claims when it determined the allegations did not

rise to the level of severe and pervasive for the purposes of a hostile work

environment claim. Even viewing the facts in a light most favorable to plaintiff,

Director Riley's conversation with plaintiff at the hospital and other "random"

questions about plaintiff's retirement plans from other officers did not amount

to severe and pervasive conduct as contemplated by our caselaw.

      After admitting to certain misconduct, plaintiff was permitted to retire in

good standing as part of a negotiated agreement. Notably, the charges leading

to plaintiff's agreement to retire stemmed from the Prosecutor's Office's

independent investigation.    Also, the record shows the disciplinary charges

regarding Sergeant Gwinn's computer use and the internal investigation

regarding the blood warrant started before plaintiff went into the hospital. There

is no indication that these disciplinary charges were brought because of

plaintiff's protected status, as the charges reasonably related to plaintiff's

misconduct. Moreover, Director Riley's comments to plaintiff at the hospital,

against the backdrop of the Union County Prosecutor's recommendation that

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                                       17
plaintiff be disciplined for the blood warrant incident, were neither "severe [n]or

pervasive [so as] to alter the conditions of employment and create an

intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment."         El-Sioufi, 382 N.J.

Super. at 178.

                                         B.

      Turning to the constructive discharge claim, plaintiff argues the discovery

reveals defendants' "outrageously discriminatory conduct" created conditions

"so intolerable" any reasonable person in plaintiff's position would have

resigned. Specifically, plaintiff asserts Director Riley asked him on multiple

occasions how old he was and when he was going to retire, and after doing so,

Director Riley brought disciplinary charges against plaintiff in January 2016 for

failing to supervise another officer who engaged in prohibited computer activity.

Then, within two weeks of Director Riley bringing disciplinary charges against

plaintiff, Lieutenant Venson asked plaintiff how old he was and suggested that

he retire. Next, Director Riley and another officer visited plaintiff in the hospital

and suggested he retire.        According to plaintiff, Director Riley, in a

"threatening" manner, asked plaintiff how old he was, when he was thinking

about retiring, and stated that "if you were to go, this could all go away,"

referencing the disciplinary charges related to the blood warrant incident.

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                                        18
      On February 24, 2016, shortly after this conversation at the hospital,

Director Riley brought disciplinary charges regarding the blood warrant incident

against plaintiff seeking to demote him to the rank of sergeant. Additionally,

Lieutenant Tyler of the Plainfield PD testified that he alerted the Franklin

Township Police Department of plaintiff's son's protest because it was a safety

concern. Plaintiff alleges this was an attempt to harass plaintiff. He asserts this

entire scheme forced him to retire—a constructive discharge—so that he would

not suffer the financial consequences of a demotion.

      A constructive discharge occurs when an employer engages in "'severe or

pervasive' conduct . . . that is so intolerable . . . a reasonable person would be

forced to resign rather than continue to endure it." Shepherd, 174 N.J. at 28

(quoting Jones v. Aluminum Shapes, Inc., 339 N.J. Super. 412, 428 (App. Div.

2001)).   "[T]he standard envisions a 'sense of outrageous, coercive and

unconscionable requirements.'" Ibid. The heightened standard for proof of a

constructive discharge claim recognizes an employee's "obligation to do what is

necessary and reasonable in order to remain employed rather than" resign or

retire. Ibid. (quoting Shepherd v. Hunterdon Developmental Ctr., 336 N.J.

Super. 395, 420 (App. Div. 2001), rev'd on other grounds, 174 N.J. 1 (2002)).

The proofs required to establish a constructive discharge are objective, i.e.,

                                                                             A-2426-21
                                       19
whether a "reasonable person" would have resigned. Ibid. See also Muench v.

Twp. of Haddon, 255 N.J. Super. 288, 302 (App. Div. 1992). An employee

claiming constructive discharge

            has the obligation to do what is necessary and
            reasonable in order to remain employed rather than
            simply quit. A trial court should consider the nature of
            the harassment, the closeness of the working
            relationship between the harasser and the victim,
            whether the employee resorted to internal grievance
            procedures, the responsiveness of the employer to the
            employee's complaints, and all other relevant
            circumstances.

            [Shepherd, 174 N.J. at 28 (quoting Shepherd, 336 N.J.
            Super. at 420).]

      We are satisfied the trial court did not err in concluding plaintiff did not

suffer a constructive discharge. Based on the record, we are unconvinced a

reasonable jury could find defendants' conduct was so unbearable that it would

have forced plaintiff into retirement. Brill, 142 N.J. at 545. With the advice of

counsel, plaintiff agreed to retire while acknowledging he did not engage in

proper supervision of his subordinates and failed to contact the Prosecutor's

Office or internal affairs regarding the inadequacy of the investigation and the

conduct of the officers under his command. Plaintiff did not take advantage of

the ability to contest the charges in an administrative proceeding. Measured by

the objective reasonable person standard, neither Director Riley's questions of

                                                                            A-2426-21
                                      20
plaintiff while at the hospital nor the other referenced incidents when plaintiff

was asked about retirement can be viewed as reaching the heightened level of

"outrageous, coercive[, or] unconscionable" conduct. Shepherd, 174 N.J. at 28.

                                         C.

      Lastly, plaintiff argues Director Riley's active and purposeful conduct

aided and abetted the City's overall goal to force plaintiff to retire due to his age

and disabilities. This conduct included: (1) suggesting plaintiff retire while in

the hospital and more specifically asking plaintiff how old he was and stating

"if you were to go, [the disciplinary charges] could all go away"; (2) authorizing

disciplinary action against plaintiff regarding the blood warrant incident; and

(3) commenting on the audio recording that plaintiff had "been Teflon for years

but look where he's at."

      N.J.S.A. 10:5-12 specifies that it is

             an unlawful employment practice, or, as the case may
             be, an unlawful discrimination:

                   ....

                    (e) For any person, whether an employer or an
             employee or not, to aid, abet, incite, compel[,] or coerce
             the doing of any of the acts forbidden under this act, or
             to attempt to do so.

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                                        21
      Our Supreme Court has held that "individual liability of a supervisor for

acts of discrimination or for creating or maintaining a hostile environment can

only arise through the 'aiding and abetting' mechanism that applies to 'any

person'" under N.J.S.A. 10:5-12(e). Cicchetti v. Morris Cnty. Sheriff's Office,

194 N.J. 563, 594 (2008). 8      The Court has stressed the significance of

supervisory positions,

            recogniz[ing] that "[a] supervisor has a unique role in
            shaping the work environment. Part of a supervisor's
            responsibilities is the duty to prevent, avoid, and rectify
            invidious harassment in the workplace." "An employer
            [through its supervisors] has a clear duty not only to
            take strong and aggressive measures to prevent
            invidious harassment, but also to correct and remediate
            promptly such conduct when it occurs."

            [Id. at 592 (second and third alterations in original)
            (internal citations omitted) (quoting Taylor v. Metzger,
            152 N.J. 490, 503-04 (1998)).]

      The "aiding and abetting" analysis under N.J.S.A. 10:5-12(e) requires a

finding of "active and purposeful conduct." Tarr v. Ciasulli, 181 N.J. 70, 83

(2004). To support this finding, a plaintiff must demonstrate that

            (1) the party whom the defendant aids . . . perform[ed]
            a wrongful act that cause[d] an injury; (2) the defendant
            must be generally aware of [their] role as part of an

8
   The parties dispute whether a defendant supervisor may aid and abet their
"own conduct." Because we determine plaintiff has not demonstrated wrongful
discrimination, we need not address this issue.
                                                                          A-2426-21
                                       22
            overall illegal or tortious activity at the time that [they]
            provide[] the assistance; [and] (3) the defendant must
            knowingly and substantially assist the principal
            violation.

            [Id. at 84 (third alteration in original) (quoting Hurley
            v. Atl. City Police Dep't, 174 F.3d 95, 127 (3d Cir.
            1999), cert. denied, 528 U.S. 1074 (2000)).]

      Because we determined above, based on the same allegations, that the trial

court did not err in granting summary judgment and finding defendants did not

engage in any wrongful discrimination, plaintiff cannot satisfy the first Tarr

factor. Therefore, we need not address the other aiding and abetting factors.

      We discern no basis to disturb the trial court's conclusions. In short, the

evidence in the record, even when viewed in the light most favorable to plaintiff,

does not support a prima facie case for a hostile work environment, constructive

discharge, or an aiding and abetting claim. Accordingly, we are satisfied the

trial court properly granted summary judgment in defendants' favor and denied

plaintiff's motion for reconsideration.

      To the extent we have not specifically addressed any remaining arguments

raised on appeal, we conclude they lack sufficient merit to warrant discussion in

a written opinion. R. 2:11-3(e)(1)(E).

      Affirmed.

                                                                            A-2426-21
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