The Carl’s Fencing lawsuit was a 2015 pregnancy and family leave discrimination case filed in Monmouth County Superior Court by former marketing coordinator Ashley Meyer against the Toms River contractor Carl’s Fencing, Decking and Home Improvements, along with CEO Carl DelPizzo and his wife Donna DelPizzo. No public record of a settlement, verdict, or dismissal has surfaced.
What Ashley Meyer Alleged
Meyer, a Bayville resident, was hired in January 2014 as a marketing coordinator at a $57,000 salary by the company, legally known as Pizzo Contracting. Her complaint said that during the job interview she was asked whether she had children and whether day care would be an issue.1Patch. Berkeley Woman’s Lawsuit Accuses Carl’s Fencing CEO, Wife of Pregnancy, Family Leave Discrimination
After Meyer became pregnant, her salary was cut in half, the suit alleged. Donna DelPizzo made comments about Meyer’s appearance and accused her of having “baby brain,” blaming that for workplace mistakes, according to the complaint. It included an audio recording of Donna DelPizzo telling Meyer, “You made a couple more mistakes. The other day you sent me something with a mistake too, so you may have baby brain.”1Patch. Berkeley Woman’s Lawsuit Accuses Carl’s Fencing CEO, Wife of Pregnancy, Family Leave Discrimination
Meyer gave birth to a premature son in December 2014. When she returned in January 2015, the suit said, she was demoted from marketing coordinator to a part-time administrative sales assistant. She gave 30 days’ notice of her intent to take six weeks of Family Leave Act leave once her son was discharged from the hospital, and Carl DelPizzo allegedly pressured her to work part-time during that leave and would not confirm her job would still exist when she came back.2Patch. Lawsuit Accuses Carl’s Fencing CEO, Wife of Pregnancy, Family Leave Discrimination
She was fired in March 2015. The complaint said Meyer had asked co-owner Bill Rankin for help, and that Rankin refused to intervene and told her to deal with Donna DelPizzo directly.2Patch. Lawsuit Accuses Carl’s Fencing CEO, Wife of Pregnancy, Family Leave Discrimination
The Legal Claims
The suit alleged pregnancy-based discrimination and retaliation under state and federal law. It cited N.J.S.A. 10:5-12, the section of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination that bars employers from asking prospective employees about marital status, children, or child care arrangements, and it alleged violations tied to the Family Leave Act.1Patch. Berkeley Woman’s Lawsuit Accuses Carl’s Fencing CEO, Wife of Pregnancy, Family Leave Discrimination
The complaint went beyond Meyer’s own experience. It alleged that the defendants routinely asked female job candidates illegal questions about marital status, children, and child care during interviews.2Patch. Lawsuit Accuses Carl’s Fencing CEO, Wife of Pregnancy, Family Leave Discrimination
Meyer was represented by Matthew Luber of McOmber and McOmber. The DelPizzos were represented by Louis Lessig of Brown and Connery.1Patch. Berkeley Woman’s Lawsuit Accuses Carl’s Fencing CEO, Wife of Pregnancy, Family Leave Discrimination
How the Case Ended
The lawsuit was reported publicly in July 2015, shortly after it was filed. Nothing in later reporting or publicly available court records shows how it was resolved. It may have been settled privately, dismissed, or otherwise concluded without generating public attention. Employment discrimination cases in New Jersey frequently end in confidential settlements, which would explain the absence of any reported outcome.
The Company Today
Carl’s Fencing, Decking and Home Improvements is a family business founded by Carl DelPizzo Sr., with a main office at 1579 US Route 9 in Toms River and a display room in Freehold.3Carl’s Fencing. FAQ Current listings show it is run by CEO Carl DelPizzo Jr. and COO Bill Rankin, Carl Sr.’s son-in-law. Donna DelPizzo, a defendant in the Meyer lawsuit, is listed as Chief Marketing Officer.4Carl’s Fencing. About