Court orders mediation in South Plainfield police whistleblower suit
SOUTH PLAINFIELD – A borough police captain's whistleblower lawsuit alleging misconduct by Chief James Parker is headed to mediation.
The Middlesex Vicinage Civil Division on Aug. 4 ordered the parties and attorneys to participate in mediation in good faith and with a sense of urgency, or face costs and other consequences.
And while an employment law attorney from the Wilentz, Goldman and Spitzer law firm in Woodbridge was designated as the mediator, the parties have 14 days to select their own. If a new mediator is not selected, a conference call is to be held within 35 days of the order to explain the process and set ground rules.
"This program is in direct response to public concerns that litigation is too often an extremely costly and protracted means to resolve disputes,” the court order states “Although most cases settle, it is only after the expenditure of substantial fees and after long delays. All indications are that early mediation – a process that brings parties together in search of a mutually beneficial resolution, aided by a trained, neutral facilitator – can resolve most cases quickly, fairly and at reduced costs, producing client satisfaction.”
Last year longtime South Plainfield Police Capt. Charles Siedenburg filed suit accusing Parker of engaging in sexual acts with several female police department and borough employees, including a former police dispatcher, while on duty and at a security detail at a borough movie theater.
Earlier:South Plainfield police chief accused of sexual misconduct in whistleblower lawsuit
Parker's attorneys argued the lawsuit stems from a personal dispute between the two officers because Siedenburg wants Parker's job as chief. Parker became provisional police chief in 2010 and chief on Jan. 1, 2011. Siedenburg has served as a captain since 2013.
According to court documents, Siedenburg's plan to oust Parker includes reporting the chief allegedly misused his emails and computer, to visit pornographic websites, and engaged in sexual relationships with co-workers.
Court papers filed by the borough's attorney say the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office informed Siedenburg it did not intend to investigate because there was not enough evidence to support his claims.
Siedenburg alleges in his lawsuit that Parker retaliated against him by bringing administrative charges, deducting some of his paid vacation time, failing to recognize Siedenburg as the officer-in-charge when the chief was out for two months in 2020 with COVID-19 and refusing to respond to any of Siedenburg's texts, emails and phone calls since January 2021.
Siedenburg's lawsuit also says Parker retaliated against him by never providing Siedenburg with a performance evaluation for nine years to prevent him from being named chief once Parker retires, even though Siedenburg is next in line for the position.
Earlier this year the chief, borough and the police department sought to have Siedenburg's lawsuit dismissed, but a Superior Court judge denied the motion.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: South Plainfield police whistleblower suit ordered to mediation
