Politics & Government

McNally Attorney Confirms Mediation But Says Lawsuit is Still Pending

Attorney Jacques Parenteau says he's unaware of any action that might come out of WPCA water and sewer commission executive session on the litigation

 

An all-day mediation on Nov. 16 had former Connecticut Superior Court judge and now arbitrator James F. Stapleton, town attorneys, town officilas and Water Pollution Control Authority administrators meet with outsed Water Pollution Control Assistant Superintendent Thomas McNally and his laywer Jacques Parenteau in an effort to hammer out a deal in McNally's lawsuit against the town over his firing early June. And while it is not clear what if anything was decided, what Montvile PAtch did learn from Parenteau is that the "claim is still pending," meaning there was no resolution. 

Monday night the WPCA sewer commission held a specail meeting with a single agenda item: an executive session to discuss pending employee litigation -- McNally.

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Parenteau alleges his clients’ Constitutional rights “to political association” were violated by the defendants who he alleges “falsely claim(ed) that Thomas McNally engaged in acts that constituted just cause to terminate his employment…”

The lawsuit names the town, Mayor Ronald K. McDaniel Jr., WPCA chair Timothy May, WPCA administrator Brian Lynch, plant superintendent Michael Didato and employee John Lilly as defendants.  

Find out what's happening in Montvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

McNally alleges the defendants “collectively and individually manufactured claims, gave false statements, conducted and condoned a biased and flawed investigation, defamed, and retaliated against Thomas McNally because of his status as Chair of the Town of Montville’s Republican Party in order to deprive him of his employment with the Town,” which in addition to his post with the WPCA cost him his post as an Auxiliary Marine Officer for the Montville Police Department, Parenteau said.

The suit alleges that “as a result of the actions taken by the (defendants) …and aided by so-called investigators hired by Mayor McDaniel,” McNally has suffered damages in the form of lost wages and benefits, harm to his reputation, loss of enjoyment of life and emotional distress as will be determined by the jury.”

Read more about his firing and reaction here. 


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