Released on = February 5, 2007, 7:42 am

Press Release Author = Sarah Fern Meil

Industry = Law

Press Release Summary = The lawsuit alleges that the Union County Prosecutor\'s
Office discriminates against Hispanic employees.

Press Release Body =
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, February 5, 2007 - A Hispanic employee has filed suit against
Union County and the Union County Prosecutor\'s Office (UCPO) alleging systematic
race and ethnicity discrimination in the office\'s promotion practices.

Edgardo Ortiz - a Detective Sergeant with the UCPO - alleges that despite his
distinguished twenty-year career in law enforcement, he was repeatedly passed over
for promotions while lesser-qualified non-Hispanic officers were frequently
promoted.

Mr. Ortiz further alleges that the UCPO retaliated against him when he confronted
his superiors concerning illegal and discriminatory practices in the office. The
Complaint filed in Union County Superior Court asserts that these actions violated
the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) and the New Jersey Conscientious
Employee Protection Act (CEPA).

Commenting on these allegations, Mr. Ortiz\'s attorney, Sarah Fern Meil, Esq. of
Stockton, New Jersey said “This lawsuit is a step forward in ensuring that the
dedicated servants to the citizens of Union County, such as Mr. Ortiz, are not
deprived of their rightful opportunities for advancement simply because they are
minorities.”

Ms. Meil also called on anyone with knowledge of the discriminatory promotion
practices to come forward: “In order to eradicate the culture of discrimination
from an organization as powerful as the Union County Prosecutor\'s Office, people
must have the courage to come forward and speak out.”

For additional information or a PDF copy of Edgardo Ortiz\'s Complaint, contact:

Sarah Fern Meil, Attorney at Law
19 Bridge Street
Stockton, NJ 08559
Phone: (609) 397-4333
Fax: (609) 228-4307
sarahfern@sfmesq.com
www.sfmesq.com




Web Site = http://www.sfmesq.com