By WILLIAM CLARK
The Neptune Township Committee has agreed to settle a lawsuit with the former police chief for $500,000.
Neptune’s insurance carrier will pay James Hunt the former chief for the 2020 racial discrimination lawsuit he filed.
Township attorney Gene Anthony said the insurance carrier suggested the settlement and it was agreed to by both parties.
“We’re just happy the whole thing is over with,” Anthony said.
Anthony said that many of the details could not be revealed at this time based on nondisclosure agreements.
Hunt filed the lawsuit in 2020 alleging harassment, hostile work environment and reverse discrimination, Anthony said.
This past June, Hunt retired from his position as police chief. The retirement was based on the age limit of the position and did not pertain to any pending legal action at the time.
The settlement was welcomed by the township based on where in the process the case was at the time, Anthony said. Both parties were preparing for discovery and depositions which would have increased costs.
Anthony is unsure of what impact this lawsuit may have on the township’s insurance fees. However, the township was not on the hook for legal fees in this case as the attorneys involved were appointed by the insurance carrier.
Hunt was police chief from 2014 until his retirement last year. He alleged in the lawsuit that the township’s Police Oversight Committee had wanted to replace him with a non-white person.
