WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — A Whitehall Township tax collector and treasurer has filed federal lawsuits against the township and mayor based on allegations that she was obstructed from doing her job.
Tina Koren filed a suit against both Mayor Joseph Marx and Whitehall Township Tuesday, accusing the defendants of subjecting her to “frivolous” and “unfounded” grievances and a supposed “rebellion” among her employees at the tax office.
Represented by attorney Matthew Mobillio, Koren has opted to demand a jury trial.
These allegations came to light in early September 2024, when Mobilio issued a press release laying out the claims and stating Koren would seek legal action.
Koren notably lost the mayoral race to Marx in Nov. 2023 by a margin of 121 votes, though allegations in the court filing date back to shortly after she was sworn into her position in early 2022.
In the complaint, Koren makes accusations her requests for additional part-time help in her office were rejected by tax clerk Andrea Judge, “likely at the direction of and with permission from Mayor Marx and Whitehall Township.”
Further details in the complaint point out Koren elicited assistance from the mayor and the board of commissioners due to “the hostility of the staff and the need for intervention and assistance,” though no action was taken.
Additional commentary in the filing showed Marx allegedly pressured Koren not to run for mayor, promising her a position in his administration if she did not.
Koren ran for mayor on the Republican ticket.
Marx also supposedly pushed a referendum to eliminate Koren’s position, which failed, and allegedly had his son “file a frivolous challenge to [Koren’s] nominating position” to the Republican Party, despite the fact he was ineligible to do so.
Further issues in the complaint include claims that in July and August 2024, Marx directed the township’s chief of police to restrict Koren’s access to parts of the township building; that Marx told other employees Koren was “effectively banned” from parts of the township building; Koren was banned from staff meetings; effectively closing the tax office due to a lack of staff; and ultimately, turning the blame for that on to Koren.
The complaint cites Koren’s First Amendment rights to defend her actions including running for mayor, issuing complaints directed toward the township, mayor, and board of commissioners pointing out the “harassment and hostility” she faced from her employees, and attending and speaking at public meetings.
The response from the mayor and his “agents and representatives” included the filing of false grievances against Koren, the filing of a false police report and attempting to have Koren arrested, filing a frivolous petition challenge, supporting the elimination of Koren’s office, publicly humiliating Koren, and refusing to provide her with the means to do her job.
A second count cites the defendants for enacting indifferent policies, practices, customs, training, and supervision in violation of the First Amendment.
A third count directed toward Marx individually cites intentional inflection of emotional distress, followed by a fourth count directed at Marz for negligent inflection of emotional distress.
Koren is seeking compensatory and consequential damages, along with economic losses, special damages to be determined at trial, punitive damages, compensation for attorneys’ fees, and any other eligible relief.
You can find Lehighvalleynews.com's previous coverage of this story here.
