East Cocalico Township, by and through its attorney, Sheryl L. Brown, Esquire obtained a dismissal of all Employment Discrimination claims filed by the Township’s current tax collector, Jill Cordan, against East Cocalico Township, Supervisor Mitchell, and former Manager Ryan. As claimed in the 8 Count Complaint filed in Federal Court, Ms. Cordan stated that she was a target of discrimination, retaliation, conspiracy and that her equal protection rights were violated by the Township Defendants due to her status as a gay woman.
Ms. Cordan claimed that since being elected as the Township’s Tax Collector in 2022, the Township discriminated against her and conspired to stop her from successfully performing her duties, purposefully damaging her reputation, and costing her a reelection bid. Ms. Cordan also alleged a loss in income resulting from the Township’s adoption of an Ordinance outsourcing tax collection.
The Township Defendants, by and through their attorneys at Bellwoar Kelly, were successful in their Motion to the Court seeking a dismissal of ALL claims including those for First Amendment Retaliation, Discrimination, Monell (alleging violative policies/practices), Equal Protection and Conspiracy. The Court, unable to determine any timely connections to alleged statements by Ms. Cordan, dismissed the First Amendment Retaliation Claim. Additionally, the Court determined Ms. Cordan’s Discrimination and Conspiracy claims lacked sufficient basis, and that her § 1981 discrimination claim failed on the legal merits. As a result, the Eastern District Court dismissed all claims against the Township, its Supervisor and former Manager.