Plainfield Fire Chief Frank Tidwell is suing the city, alleging city officials engaged in a conspiracy to force him into retirement.
The lawsuit, which was filed in Union County Superior Court, names the City of Plainfield, Mayor Adrian Mapp, Public Safety Director Carl Riley, former Business Administrator Rick Smiley and Deputy Fire Chief Jeffrey Courtney, among other entities.
Courtney, who is white, claimed he was discriminated against while working in the city's fire department and recently settled a lawsuit with the city for $450,000. Tidwell, however, claims it was all a part of an orchestrated conspiracy in order to make him retire early.