EDISON, NJ - A former school secretary from Edison Public Schools has filed a lawsuit against the district alleging disability discrimination and retaliation.
Dana LaPenta filed a lawsuit with the Middlesex County Superior Court on July 25, alleging she was terminated from her job after requesting a short medical leave.
LaPenta was employed at the Menlo Park Elementary School beginning June 3, 2024. She was an “excellent employee” who received positive performance reviews, including an outstanding review from the school’s Principal, Michael J. Duggan, the suit says.
On Feb. 27, LaPenta started having episodes where she felt the room was spinning, and her heart racing.
She was ultimately diagnosed with vertigo with vestibular dysfunction and had gone to the hospital seven times, seen five specialists, and has undergone numerous tests, including an MRI, a CT scan, an ultrasound, a stress test, an echocardiogram, and x-rays, according to the suit.
Due to her medical condition, LaPenta missed around six days of work, but said she was in frequent communication with Duggan, Secretary Carmen Bova, and Human Resources Specialist Lisa LaPlant.
Her contract was renewed during a school board meeting on May 6, and as per the Reappointment List, she was even set to receive an increase in salary for the upcoming year.
However, on May 8, LaPenta received an email inquiring about taking a short medical leave. She had begun physical therapy and planned on taking a couple of weeks off to care for her health, according to the suit.
Then at 1:35 p.m. the same day, Duggan called LaPenta to inform her that she was being terminated. The suit also alleges that Edison Education Association President Matt Hrevnak, spoke to LaPenta after discussing the matter with Duggan and others at the school, and was told Duggan refused to meet her. “He also said that it would be better if Plaintiff resigned from her position because she would be paid through the end of the year, would be able to collect unemployment, and would keep her health benefits,” the lawsuit said.
Hrevnak also told LaPenta that if she resigned, “when things change”, she may be able to be hired back, the suit alleges.
When asked about the reason behind her termination, Hrevnak said "he didn’t have a reason,” the lawsuit said.
When LaPenta refused to resign, she received a letter from the Superintendent of Edison Township Public Schools, Edward Aldarelli, informing her that her contract would not be renewed. “On May 9, 2025, Plaintiff saw that her job had been posted online,” the lawsuit said.
According to the lawsuit, the school district’s conduct was “willful, malicious and/or especially egregious and done with the knowledge and/or participation of upper-level management,” including Aldarelli and Duggan.
The lawsuit also alleges that the school district’s actions “constitute a failure to accommodate Plaintiff’s disability and a failure to engage in the interactive process in violation of the LAD, N.J.S.A. 10:5-1, et seq.”
LaPenta said she has suffered, and continues to suffer, damages including back pay, front pay, pain and suffering, physical manifestation of emotional distress, and emotional distress.
She is seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, costs of suit, pre- and post-judgment interest, and all other relief that the Court deems equitable and just.