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A New Jersey township paid out $75,000 in a discrimination lawsuit between the former mayor and three township citizens, according to Raw Story.

Michael Sharp, the former mayor and councilman of Fairfield Township, says officials there called him “boy” and “monkey,” on several occasions.

In the lawsuit filed in March, Sharp states the township created a hostile and racially intimidating environment because of the racist comments made towards him.

Sharp says Joseph Servais, a son of previous mayor JoAnne Servais, called him “boy” on May 14, 2013 and again on June 12, 2013 at a township meeting.

It further claimed Joseph’s father, Richard Servais, and a township volunteer, Russell Pierce, called him “boy” on July 5, 2013. Lastly, Sharp alleged that Pierce referred to him and his election running mate as “monkeys” on June 7, 2013.

An independent investigation led by Kathleen Gaskill in November 2013, found the complaints stemmed from a lengthy feud between those named in the suit. Gaskill reached the conclusion the feud was political and not racial.

Sharp contends in his lawsuit that Gaskill’s investigation was “wholly contrived” and that the “legal conclusions reached were founded upon specious analysis.”

In 2014, JoAnne Servais made a complaint against Sharp, saying he continually harassed her by inquiring about her business. Eventually the complaint was dismissed and according to RawStory, Sharp’s lawsuit said, “The complaint was an example of malicious prosecution.”

SOURCES: RawStory | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty

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‘Boy’ & ‘Monkey:’ Ex-NJ Mayor Awarded $75,000 In Discrimination Suit  was originally published on newsone.com