A judge dismissed former Seton Hall President Dr. Joseph Nyre’s lawsuit against the university on Feb. 20.
The lawsuit, which was filed in February 2024, was dismissed by Judge Louise Grace Spencer on the grounds of “failure to state claim,” meaning even if all factual allegations in a complaint are true, they are insufficient to establish a cause of action.
The two-year battle between SHU and Nyre has been long and complicated.
Nyre served as SHU’s president from 2019 to 2023. During his presidency, Nyre guided SHU through the COVID-19 pandemic and is best remembered by his multi-year strategic plan, “Harvest Our Treasures.” Before he arrived at SHU, Nyre served as university president at Iona College for over eight years.
Following his unexpected departure in July 2023, after a sabbatical year, Nyre filed a lawsuit alleging violations of New Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) and discrimination and retaliation in violation of New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) and of the Separation and General Release Agreement, as reported previously in The Setonian.
Many allegations were aimed at then-chairman of the Board of Regents, Kevin Marino. Nyre’s wife accused him of sexual harassment.
SHU retaliated by filing a whistleblower lawsuit against Nyre on Feb. 19, 2025, alleging Nyre “illicitly” accessed and distributed confidential documents, forming the basis for a December 2024 Politico report that implicated current SHU President Msgr. Joseph Reilly failed to report sexual abuse in SHU’s seminaries during his time as dean of the Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology (ICS).
Despite the dismissal of Nyre’s lawsuit, SHU’s retaliatory lawsuit is still ongoing.
“Seton Hall University is pleased with the Court’s decision,” University Relations said in an email to The Setonian. “We remain focused on our educational mission and the success and wellbeing of our entire University community.”
One of Nyre’s lawyers, Amber McOmber, has yet to respond to The Setonian for comment.
Dominique Mercadante is the Editor-in-Chief of The Setonian. She can be reached at dominique.mercadante@student.shu.edu.
