MEDIA – The former Recreation Committee Chairperson for the Borough of Brookhaven alleges she was slandered on social media by the Brookhaven Council President last year.
Dawn Jones filed suit in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas on June 9 versus Brookhaven Council President Terry Heller and the Borough of Brookhaven. All parties are of Brookhaven.
“On or about Sept. 23, 2020, defendant Heller, while acting as Council President for defendant Borough, distributed and/or circulated a letter stating that plaintiff had engaged in ‘habitual intemperance’ as well as ‘conduct unbecoming a member of good standing with the [Brookhaven Borough] Recreation Board,” the suit says.
“On or about Sept. 25, 2020, defendant Heller, while acting as Council President for defendant Borough, published statements and false accusations, pertaining to plaintiff, on defendant Heller’s public Facebook page. On or about May 18, 2021, defendant Heller, while acting as Council President for defendant Borough, wrote on his public Facebook page, in reference to plaintiff, ‘Good morning chief. Better hold your wallet tight.'”
The suit states that the aforesaid statements and allegations made by defendant Heller were false insofar as they related to plaintiff, and that Heller “knew or should have known that the above statements were false when made and that said conduct was extreme and outrageous as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency.”
“The statements and actions of defendant Heller, acting as Council President of defendant Borough, were made in the regular course and scope of his employment. The statements, conduct, and actions of defendant Heller caused emotional distress to plaintiff,” according to the suit.
“The slanderous, libelous, and defamatory statements were made by defendant Heller, within the course and scope of his duties as agent, employee and Council President of defendant Borough.”
For counts of emotional distress and slander, the plaintiff is seeking compensatory damages in excess of $50,000, plus interest, costs, attorney’s fees and punitive damages.
The plaintiff is represented by William E. Malone Jr. of Musi Malone & Daubenberger, in Media.
The defendants have not yet obtained legal counsel.
Delaware County Court of Common Pleas case CV-2021-005122
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com