A Hudson County Superior Court Judge dismissed a lawsuit field by a former West New York Board of Education employee, which alleged that the town and Mayor Felix Roque had her fired as a form of political retaliation.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Hudson County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Jablonski dismissed a civil rights suit filed by Dominique DeMarquet, Roque’s office announced this morning.
DeMarquet alleged she was terminated from a secretarial position in the West New York BOE back on October 13, 2011, filing a suit claiming she was fired for political reasons nearly two years later.
Jablonski ruled that the litigation was based on “heresy, opinion testimony and conjecture,” Town spokeswoman Natalia Novas said in a statement.
“This is a win for the hard working taxpayers of West New York,†Roque added, also in a prepared statement.
“The town will not be held hostage by individuals seeking to line their pockets by filing frivolous lawsuits against it. This case demonstrates that the town will vigorously defend against any and all such claims.â€
Roque also thanked the towns’s law firm, Scarinci Hollenbeck, for their work on the case.
Almost one year ago, Hudson County View exclusively reported that John Azzarello, a former criminal defense attorney for Roque who has since been hired as the attorney of the West New York Parking Authority, was temporarily hired to help settle three legal matters – including DeMarquet’s case.
“My friend John Azzarello helped the taxpayer save hundreds and thousands of dollars in this matter,” Roque added this afternoon.
Based on the Jablonski’s ruling, it seems apparent that the two sides were unable to reach an agreement in the matter, where DeMarquet was initially asking for $425,000.
DeMarquet could not be reached for comment by Hudson County View Wednesday morning.