An Essex County jury has returned a no-cause verdict in a civil suit, clearing Irvington Mayor Tony Vauss on a claim that he sexually assaulted and harassed a city employee. The jury ordered his accuser to pay $7,000 on a counterclaim for defamation.

The jury rejected claims by city housing inspector Tamara Smith that Vauss sexually assaulted her in her City Hall office on June 9, 2014. The verdict was issued Aug. 8, following a two-week trial before Superior Court Judge Robert Gardner.