The jury is expected to re-convene Wednesday in the trial of a Princeton Borough cop who says racial discrimination is the reason he was denied promotion.
By: Jennifer Potash
The jury in the trial of a former Princeton Borough police officer alleging he was denied promotions and discriminated against due to his race got a break Friday due to the pending winter storm.
The deliberations are expected to resume Wednesday.
William A. Nathan, now retired from the department, filed a discrimination suit in 1997 against the borough, Mayor Marvin Reed, then-Councilmen Mark Freda and Arthur Saylor, Councilwoman Mildred Trotman, then-Borough Administrator Thomas Shannon and Police Chief Thomas Michaud. The trial, which began in January, concluded Feb. 26 and closing statements by both attorneys were given Wednesday.
The jury received about 30 pages of instructions from the judge early Friday afternoon, according to the attorneys involved with the case.
At 3:30 p.m. Friday, the jury of five men and four women sent a question to the judge for clarification of one of the charges. The court typically closes at 5 p.m. and shortly before then the jury sent another note to the judge about the pending winter storm.
Mercer County Superior Court Judge Paulette Sapp-Peterson said deliberations would resume Wednesday morning, weather permitting.
"By then, whatever snow we get will probably be cleared out," Judge Sapp-Peterson said.
An officer in Princeton Borough from 1976 until December 1999, Mr. Nathan claims he was discriminated against because of his race he is of Indian descent and the department’s promotional process was unfair.
Since 1981, when he first became eligible, he was denied promotion to the rank of sergeant four times, according to the lawsuit.
The borough contends its promotional procedures are fair and it did not discriminate againstMr. Nathan.
Mr. Nathan is seeking $19,880 for lost pay and $139,359 for lost retirement benefits he would have earned if promoted in 1996, along with unspecified punitive damages for pain, suffering and humiliation.