Defamation lawsuit against New Jersey governor to proceed News
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Defamation lawsuit against New Jersey governor to proceed

New Jersey Superior Court Judge Douglas H. Hurd Friday allowed a defamation claim against New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy to proceed.

Former New Jersey Department of Health Assistant Commissioner Christopher Neuwirth filed the defamation complaint, accusing Governor Murphy of spreading a false story that he was terminated for performing outside consulting work without approval. Neuwirth alleges he was actually terminated for objecting to collecting COVID-19 test samples from relatives of Governor Murphy’s chief of staff early in the pandemic when there was a shortage of testing supplies.

When he attempted to file an ethics complaint with the state over this infraction, he was advised to speak with a criminal defense lawyer about the “consequences of submitting the ethics complaint.” Shortly after seeking to file the complaint, news reports citing to “anonymous persons associated with the State and/or Governor’s Office” claimed that Neuwirth was “overloaded with his work” in his other position as a consultant and “faced criticism for poor attendance at the DOH.” Neuwirth alleges in his lawsuit that these claims are false and defamatory.

Neuwirth claims that these false termination claims caused him irreparable harm and have “severely damaged [his] once stellar professional reputation.” Neuwirth requests various forms of relief, including reinstatement, front pay, back pay, and punitive damages.

Judge Hurd denied the state of New Jersey and Governor Philip D. Murphy’s motion to dismiss Neuwirth’s defamation claim. Neuwirth also claims that defendants violated New Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) pertaining to his wrongful termination.