October 24, 2007 - 10:01pm
Star-Ledger: DiFrancesco's firm sued for sexual harassment
By Matt FriedmanThe Star-Ledger is reporting that former Gov. Donald DiFrancesco's law firm is being sued for sexual harassment and wrongful termination by a former employee. Also named in the emerging scandal is Assemblyman and state Senate candidate Kip Bateman.
Josh Margolin and Robert Schwaneberg write:
A lawyer who claims she was sexually harassed by former Gov. Donald DiFrancesco and fired from his law firm when she "blew the whistle" on bad behavior by a municipal judge filed suit against the firm today.
DiFrancesco called the allegations "absolutely false."
The civil suit was filed in Essex County by Michele D'Onofrio, 48, a single mother of four who lives in Warren Township and was the municipal prosecutor there. She claims she was fired last month "in retaliation" for filing a judicial ethics complaint against a judge in the township.
The lawsuit says D'Onofrio had learned Municipal Court Judge Richard Sasso was "inebriated" on the bench and had abused his powers. The suit claims she was warned not to file a complaint by Assemblyman Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R-Somerset), a partner in DiFrancesco, Bateman, Coley, Yospin, Kunzman, Davis & Lehrer, P.C.
The lawsuit also claims that during her six years at the firm, D'Onofrio was "regularly subjected to unwelcome and sexist comments and advances by Donald DiFrancesco" and "experienced a pattern and practice of sex discrimination."
Contacted for response, DiFrancesco said: "Let me just say this: Kip and I are public figures, so we're easy targets. This person was asked to take her business elsewhere -- not just by me, but by the owners of our business for business reasons. What she's alleging is absolutely false, both as to myself and as to Kip. It's just a matter of trying to collect."
Efforts to reach Sasso this evening were unsuccessful."
Contributors
Wally Edge
Before he passed away last year, Rider University Professor David Rebovich was the most quoted man in New Jersey politics. The media, ... >
Bob Torricelli
One hesitates to quote Shakespeare to the Editors of The Record. The thought of all that dust rising from their library shelves is enough to make me ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
Barack Obama offers a hard-left vision for America. He would take NJ's disastrous economic policies national, and the resulting economic ... >
Debbie Holtz
Selecting the next NJN anchor will certainly be a different process than what happens at the major networks, local affiliates and other public ... >
Steve Lonegan
Tibet – the broad, high plateau between India and China – is bigger than Western Europe and the source of the great rivers of Asia: the Indus, ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
For the past few weeks, I've watched with fascination as politician after politician have appeared on a beach or a boardwalk and declared their ... >
Rob Tornoe
To view more cartoons by Politicker.com editorial cartoonist Rob Tornoe, click here. >
Michael P. Riccards
Some time ago, I analyzed the Catholic vote and noted in passing how some members of the Church hierarchy, in places such as St. Louis and Colorado ... >
Joey Novick
Joey Novick from Politics Unusual spent the entire week live blogging from the Convention. Here are his daily posts, exclusive to PolitickerNJ.com. >
Juan Melli
During a gubernatorial debate in 2005, then-U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine was asked if he supported lowering the drinking age to 18.
"I think it is ... >
| Politicker INTERACTIVE | |
 |
The Pindell Report Keep up with the races in your state |
 |
Lawmaker Profile Follow the funding of your representatives |
 |
270 to Win Predict the road to the White House |
Top Tags
Most Active Stories
- Biden's son brings tears to the New Jersey delegation
- Myers slams Adler, DCCC
- Adler and Myers set to debate
- Congressman says Karl Rove is going to hell
- Even VP slot wouldn't budge Booker from Newark, says mayor
- Finally, a Springsteen concert Chris Christie will skip
- Shulman makes the rounds in Denver
- That Corzine sure can dance
- Menendez gets near the stage, shakes hands with Obama
- Yudin not included in McCain veterans event in Bergen
- Dr. Bones goes to Washington
- PoliticsNJ.com Power List 2007
- DOHERTY: NEW SCIENTIFIC DATA JUSTIFIES REPEALING GLOBAL WARMING RESPONSE ACT
- Eleven arrested in bribery scandal
- Lyndhurst GOP, nearly all of them, switching parties
- Lobbyist arrested
- Governor Paralysis
- Who is the best State Party Chairman in New Jersey
- KYRILLOS, BECK, KEAN & HANDLIN VOW WORK TO KEEP SEASTREAK FERRY UP AND RUNNING
- Torricelli on COAH
Quote of the Day
August 29, 2008
"Oh, I know, there will be quite a scrum if" - he pauses and then doesn't say anything about a federal appointment - "if I get hit by a truck. A second time."
Gov. Jon Corzine, speculating on the mass of potential gubernatoial candidates eager to take his place.
--- The Jersey Journal, 8/29/08
Recent Press Releases
- Aug 30 2008
- Aug 29 2008
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Politicker Poaches From Politico― News from Politicker.com
Xanadu bill footnote may weigh on Corzine― CHARLES STILE
Zoffinger not one to deny beliefs, avoid controversy― 'Codey's an idiot, and you can print that'
Welcome to New Jersey, Media Wasteland― NEW YORK OBSERVER
Divorce McGreevey style ― ALFRED DOBLIN
The judge got it right ― JAMES AHEARN
Capital Games― HERB JACKSON
Teen will get chance to sue a top N.J. judge ― ROBERTO RIVERA-SOTO
Mayor refusing to apologize for anti-Semitic slur ― WOODCLIFF LAKE
Court decision likely to have far-reaching implications in N.J. ― EMINENT DOMAIN
PolitickerNJ.com Jobs
Syndicate
Shocking? Hmmmm. No.
I'm shocked, just shocked, that there's gambling in this establishment.
Donnie gets one thing right
"Let me say this: Kip and I are public figures, so we're easy targets." You're right. You are an easy target.
Great Timing
Curious timing on this one makes me think this isn't legitimate.
Real Deal
This is the real deal. Donofrino's attorney is a hard-hitting atty (Nancy Smith) and doesn't have a history of taking loser cases. A can of worms could be opened by this case. Anyone remember Isabel Miranda? Somerset is buzzing and the D's smell blood in the water. Difrancesco's firm represents nearly every municipality in the County in several different capacities (prosecutor, town atty, planning board atty). Could be a huge hit in the wallet for this crew.
Timing indicates an inside-party job...
Kip has fallen out of favor with Chairman Dale....Donnie, probably more culpable than Kip, is collateral damage in Dale's effort to squash Kip's bid for Senate. Donnie doesn't matter anymore...perhaps, he never did...
She's Pathetic ... its so obvious!!!
Governor DiFrancesco released an employee from his firm for failing to meet the requirements of her LEGAL position as a contributing attorney. If in 2002 she felt so uncomfortable in the firm, why stay on 5 more years? This would never have happened if she wasn't asked to find a career elsewhere. Its sleazy, calculating and makes women who really are treated poorly look questionnable when they complain. Congratulations to the media once again for presenting the news in an unbiased manner. What a joke. P.S. Have you seen what she looks like?! Give me a break!
Ass stuff
What are you a sexist? Woman had a double mastectomy and you're making fun of her looks. What a loser. And Donnie can't keep it in his pants or are you the same way. What a pathetic pathetic person you are.
Dear AssBurr,
Try I am a survivor of breast cancer and a major supporter of awareness, education and fundraising for this terrible disease. Get real. I am thankful for anyone who is blessed to not succumb to cancer, including those who are not truthful. Be intelligent enough to separate the issues. You're the one who is pathetic and sexist. Dont ASSume. And use "Governor", not Donnie, when making comments. 9/11 was a horrific time in our history. It was Gov. DiFrancesco, not "Donnie" who was leading our State in the best way possible during that time. Did you forget that this quickly? Now THAT'S pathetic.
Leading the state?
If you are a survivor, why would you stoop so low as to call a woman ugly? After what you went through, if you did, how can you have the gall to say that about anyone who has had the same terrible thing happen? Now, the Donnie thing. I guess you were one of the ones, ahem, under the desk, while he was wielding his great power over the state. Why, oh why then, didn't he run for office? Skeltons too numerous to mention. You are a sad, sad person who, as a woman, should be ashamed of yourself to think that this type of behavior should be condoned. I am sure a witty comeback is in order. I would fathom that no one, especially women, would agree with your diatribe on a lowlife like this.