New Jersey: Public can Sue Police, agencies under bias law

Police departments and other government agencies may be sued under New Jersey's tough anti-discrimination law, a state appeals court ruled unanimously yesterday. The decision provides another avenue for plaintiffs to sue government officials and agencies for discrimination based on race, religion, gender and sexual orientation. Federal law already allows for discrimination claims to be brought in state and federal court in instances in which a person's civil rights are deprived by government officials or agencies. The ruling arises from a case involving Pius Ehiri, and his wife, Patricia Uwanene, of Woodbridge. When police responded to a domestic disturbance at their home, the couple say, Ehiri was assaulted by police, who called him "nigger" and an "African monkey." He was convicted of resisting arrest. [more]