Controversial $6.85 million discrimination lawsuit against Hopewell voluntarily dismissed by court

HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) -- The controversial $6.85 million discrimination lawsuit filed against the city of Hopewell that alleges the former city manager was fired without cause due to racial discrimination has been voluntarily dismissed, according to court documents.

On Wednesday, March 4, the Richmond division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia granted the dismissal of a racial discrimination lawsuit alleging the city fired former city manager Concetta Manker because of her race, but also that it was done in such a way that violated the city council's own rules. Two of the counts can be refilled, court documents show.

According to court documents, the complaint, which initially had five counts, states that two of the counts were dismissed without prejudice, which means these claims are not permanently closed and Manker could possibly file them again in the future.

The three remaining counts were dismissed with prejudice, meaning these claims are permanently closed and cannot be brought again in court.

Richard Hawkins, a lawyer from The Hawkins Law Firm representing Manker, told 8News that the dismissal is simply a pause and that they will refile the case soon.

"The current suit was dismissed by agreement of all parties with the understanding that the wrongful termination and defamation claims will be refiled," he said in a statement to 8News. "There has been no trial yet and Dr. Manker will fully pursue justice as to her soon to be refiled claims."

"The dismissal was voluntary," city attorney Anthony Bessette told 8News. "The due process, COIA, and declaratory judgment claims were dismissed with prejudice, while the defamation and discrimination claims were dismissed without prejudice. We will continue to monitor this matter and will timely respond if the claims that were dismissed without prejudice are refiled."

In a contentious meeting held on May 1, 2025, the Hopewell City Council voted 4-3 to terminate Manker and city clerk Brittani Williams from their respective positions without cause. Citizens immediately accused the four white councilors of firing the two women because they are Black.

The three Black councilors also spoke out, saying they were excluded from discussions about both the terminations and the prospective new city manager, Michael Rogers, who is also Black.

In August 2025, the city and three of its councilors filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, claiming that Manker made “no allegations to plausibly suggest” her race was the only cause for her firing.

The suit also requested a declaratory judgment from the court that her termination was null and void, and that city battalion chief Ronnie Ellis -- who assumed a city council seat in January 2025 -- did not have “legal standing to make the motion” to terminate Manker and should not have participated in the vote due to his conflict of interest.