The New Jersey Supreme Court issued a split decision on Wednesday as to whether Cape May County retaliated against its former purchasing agent after she became embroiled in the bidding process for the county’s outside counsel business involving two law firms.

In Allen v. Cape May County, the 5-2 majority ruled that plaintiff Kim Allen is covered under the Conscientious Employee Protection Act in her involvement with the request for a proposal bid involving Capehart & Scatchard, though not with a similar engagement involving Ballard Spahr.