Green Savits, LLC attorneys Jon W. Green and Laura M. LoGiudice secured a unanimous jury verdict totaling $4,714,764.21 on behalf of their client, Sheilah A. Coley, in a retaliation lawsuit against the City of Trenton.
On November 4, 2026, following a trial that began October 26, a Mercer County jury found in Ms. Coley's favor on every question presented in the case. The lawsuit arose from her termination as Trenton's Police Director after she refused to engage in conduct she believed was unlawful and contrary to the public interest.
The jury awarded Ms. Coley:
- $714,155 in lost earnings
- $2,000,609.21 in emotional distress damages
- $2,000,000 in punitive damages
Ms. Coley dedicated more than 25 years to the Newark Police Department, where she became the department's first member to hold every rank before serving as Newark's Chief of Police and Police Director. She later served as Public Safety Director for East Orange before taking on the role in Trenton.
The verdict recognizes the harm caused by retaliation and reinforces the importance of protecting public employees who refuse to compromise their integrity or participate in unlawful conduct.
Jon Green and Laura LoGiudice expressed their gratitude to the jury for its careful consideration throughout the trial and commended Ms. Coley for her courage and persistence.
Green Savits is honored to have represented Ms. Coley in this matter.
Case: Sheilah A. Coley v. City of Trenton
Court: Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Mercer County
Docket No.: MER-L-1015-22
Trial: October 26 – November 4, 2026