Green v. Jersey City Board of Education

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

PORITZ, C.J.

In this case, the Court confronts once again the question whether the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA), N.J.S.A. 34:19-1 to -8, permits an award of punitive damages against a public entity. See Abbamont v. Piscataway Bd. of Educ., 138 N.J. 405, 650 A.2d 958 (1994) (Abbamont I), appeal after remand, 314 N.J.Super. 293, 714 A.2d 958 (App.Div.1998), aff'd, 163 N.J. 14, 746 A.2d 997 (1999). We hold today that punitive damages may be awarded under CEPA against public entity defendants in appropriate cases. We also hold that the CEPA…