Jackson, NJ – A longtime township employee has filed a sweeping civil lawsuit against Jackson Township and its leadership, alleging retaliation, harassment, and wrongful termination after she refused to comply with what she describes as politically motivated and unlawful directives.
Marianne Horta, the township’s former Personnel Officer and Purchasing Agent, filed the complaint in Ocean County Superior Court on November 18, 2025, naming the Township of Jackson, former Mayor Michael Reina, and current Mayor Jennifer Kuhn as defendants. The 15-page filing accuses Kuhn of creating a hostile workplace, targeting Horta and her son, and ultimately forcing her out of her job after asking her to retire rather than go through a formal termination process.
A career upended amid power shift
Horta, 57, began working for the township in June 2021 and later assumed additional duties as Purchasing Agent in April 2022, earning a $12,000 stipend for the added responsibilities. According to the complaint, she consistently performed her duties “satisfactorily and exceeding the legitimate expectations” of her employer.
Her role changed dramatically after Jennifer Kuhn, then Township Council President, became mayor on October 3, 2025, following the resignation of Mayor Michael Reina. The complaint claims that soon after Kuhn took office, she began undermining Horta’s authority, criticizing her work, and taking actions that “made her working conditions intolerable.”
Horta alleges that the tensions stemmed from her refusal to deviate from established municipal and civil service procedures. The filing states that when Horta objected to Kuhn’s alleged attempts to bypass hiring and personnel protocols, she became “a target of the administration’s hostility.”
Early conflict and growing tension
According to the lawsuit, the conflict began in March 2025 when Mayor Kuhn accused a township Code Enforcement employee of misconduct. As Personnel Officer, Horta was required to investigate. After conducting the inquiry, Horta says Kuhn accused her of mishandling the matter and breaching confidentiality—claims Horta denies.
From there, the relationship reportedly deteriorated. The complaint details what Horta describes as an escalating pattern of harassment: constant scrutiny, harsh emails, false accusations, and public humiliation. She also claims Kuhn extended this hostility toward her son, Anthony Horta, who worked in the township’s Recreation Department and was later transferred to a less desirable post at the Senior Center.
In one disturbing allegation, Horta said she learned that another employee claimed Kuhn had vowed to “get rid of the retard and his mother by January,” a reference to Anthony, who the complaint says has a speech and learning disability.
Stripped of her title and isolated
By August 2025, Horta says Kuhn had stripped her of her Purchasing Agent title and reassigned those duties to her assistant, Nidia Dalmaci, who was roughly 20 years younger and had less experience. Horta alleges this was part of an age-based effort to remove her from township service.
The complaint states that Dalmaci was promoted with a $65,000 salary despite lacking the required credentials, prompting the township to later hire an outside consultant for an additional $17,500 to assist with purchasing operations.
In her remaining role as Personnel Officer, Horta says Kuhn restricted her movements—ordering her never to leave her office during the workday—and assigned her to attend every Township Council meeting even though no other department heads were required to do so. Horta contends these measures were designed to humiliate and isolate her.
The final confrontation and alleged forced retirement
The situation reached a breaking point in November 2025. While on vacation, Horta says she received word from the township attorney that she was being terminated. When she returned, Kuhn allegedly told her directly that she would be fired unless she agreed to retire.
On November 11, 2025, according to the lawsuit, Kuhn told Horta, “If you retire, you’ll save me a lot of time and trouble from having to go through the process of terminating you.” Two days later, Horta was placed on administrative leave for what the township described as procedural violations related to personnel documents. She was then escorted from the building by police, an action she describes as humiliating and retaliatory.
Claims of retaliation, discrimination, and public policy violations
Horta’s lawsuit, filed by attorney F. Kevin Lynch of East Brunswick, alleges violations of several New Jersey employment laws, including:
- The Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) – claiming she was retaliated against for objecting to and reporting unlawful conduct.
- The Law Against Discrimination (LAD) – alleging age discrimination and hostile work environment.
- Public Policy Violations – citing wrongful termination for refusing to engage in actions contrary to state law.
- Breach of Good Faith and Fair Dealing – asserting that township leadership acted in bad faith by undermining her job security.
The complaint further argues that her removal was orchestrated to punish her for refusing to ignore civil service rules and for lodging internal complaints about Mayor Kuhn’s alleged interference in personnel matters.
Township leadership silent amid ongoing litigation
As of this writing, neither Mayor Kuhn nor Jackson Township has filed a formal response to the lawsuit, and the township has not publicly commented on the pending litigation. Horta’s claims remain allegations that have yet to be adjudicated in court.
The case — OCN-L-003209-25, Horta v. Township of Jackson, et al. — is pending in the Ocean County Law Division, where Horta has demanded a jury trial.
A broader workplace fallout
Horta’s filing portrays a township workplace consumed by internal conflict and political tension following the change in administration. Multiple employees reportedly submitted written complaints against Kuhn and the council in September 2025, citing “abuse, retaliation, and failure to follow the law.” Those grievances, the lawsuit claims, were mistakenly sent to Kuhn herself, further escalating tensions.
Following Horta’s removal, the township’s Business Administrator, Lavon Phillips, did not have his contract renewed, leaving the position vacant. According to the complaint, many of Horta’s duties have since been absorbed by temporary staff or outside consultants.
What’s next
Horta seeks compensatory and punitive damages, reinstatement, back pay, and coverage of attorney’s fees. She contends her firing was not only unlawful but emblematic of a broader pattern of political retribution and disregard for proper governance within Jackson Township.
If proven, her allegations could expose the township to significant liability under New Jersey’s workplace protection laws. For now, however, the case stands as an unresolved and sharply contested dispute over power, policy, and workplace ethics inside Jackson’s municipal government.
