file photo by Boyd Loving
$3.5 million firefighter award reduced by 85% to $500,000
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
(RIDGEWOOD -NJ) Superior Court in Hackensack has just reduced the $3.5 million award to $500,000 of Ridgewood Firefighter Kevin Reilly . Reilly alleged that he reported two incidents in which firefighter safety was compromised because of violations by his superiors.
Reilly reported those violations to higher-ups, but instead of taking corrective action the supervisors sunbed him ,passed him over for promotion to lieutenant and gave him unflattering reviews without his knowledge.
From the judges findings : Judge is “shocked” by jury award of $3.5 M to Firefighter Reilly and reduces award by 85% to $500K. Fees to lawyer reduced 27%. Also noted in the Judge’s decision “Plaintiff received a disturbing anonymous mailing at his home which was later found to have been sent by Former Chief Bombace”
The initial jury had agreed with Reilly on with a 6-0 verdict in January , awarding him $3.5 million for emotional distress.
Maybe former chief Bombace should be investigated by the county prosecutor.
Would never happen. The judges and the prosecutor’s office are for the most part one in the same. If the judge wants to marginalize, excuse and functionally cover up corrupt individuals in tax paid government positions (like his own) there will be no effort taken on the part of the prosecutor’s office. This is government protecting government. It’s a ‘Good o’l boys club’ with preferential treatment to its members. A highly salaried, tax payer subsidized club; I might add.
Also noted in the Judge’s decision “Plaintiff received a disturbing anonymous mailing at his home which was later found to have been sent by Former Chief Bombace”
Has Bombace been charged with anything? It seems he has culpability in this matter, costing Village Taxpayers, he should not escape without being held accountable. If the Judge found a disturbing anonymous mailing having been sent by Bombace, where is the investigation from the Ridgewood Police Department or the prosecutor’s office?
Is this the same Bombace heading up the “Citizens For A Better Ridgewood”? Was this group formed to advance the Aronsohn/Puciarelli/Hauck ticket?
Is this the same James Bombace who wrote the letter in today’s Ridgewood News supporting Paul Aronsohn, Gwenn Hauck, and Albert Pucciarelli for Village Council?
why no mention of this on patch or views? Pretty big news to be ignored!
Aronsohn has the union bug on his flier. Killion does not.
Strange as Killion was union for 25 years and Aronsohn was never union.
Can you say paycheck to Aronsohn.
Ouch, Bombass is in trouble!!!
This lies on his shoulders ( Bombace) as Director of the Fire Dept. for the years that this harassment to place. To find out that in the Judge opinion he active participated in the harassment is telling on the type of leader he was. This is the same man that now is actively spreading rumors about our mayor is even more telling of the kind of person he really is. He should give back his pension . On a side note. He actively supports one candidate for council. ( Paul A) You know the old saying. ” Birds of a feather flock together” BELIEVE IT
wonder if this guy made the calls that threatened the “math moms”
I tried posting the article on the views but it is being ignored.
The Patch is on its last leg.
will reilly keep his job?
Well if he doesn’t he can always work for Paul but that will be at 0% unless he joins the union.
Did James Bombace make those anonymous disturbing communications while on the job? How was it determined that it was him? anyone know?
it would be nice to know the real truth. Views posted their version and seem to take aim at Gabbert. suppose no court docs available yet.
Well it seems the The Patch is staying away from the Bombace story because of his connection with Paul. A. The editor has no problems taking shots at other people as long as it foresters Paul A. agenda. What a bias blog. And I see that The View aka the Bombace Blog is not writing anything. I guess he and his little fireman buddies are embarrasses of their actions. We, the tax payers paid them a lot of money in salaries just to have these kind of inappropriate action take place while they are on duty. Guess there is not much to do at the fire house.
Now The View ( aka Bombace blog) Is trying to say the the letter that was sent was just about the American Flag. Well if that was so why did he not sign it. I have to say one thing. Bombace has taken a class from Paul A. When caught in a lie go on the attack and when all else fails blame it on Dr. Gabbert.
Too funny #16. I’d like to blame my beer gut on Gabbert, why not right!
So let me get this right.
Six citizens are required to take of work and show for jury duty.
The potential jurors are lectured on the importance of a jury system in a democratic society.
Six people are agreed upon and chosen by both sides.
The jurors are given written instruction that has been approved by the supreme court.
The instructions are further clarified and reinforced by the Judge himself.
The six jurors hear both sides as filtered by the judge.
The jurors come to a unanimous conclusion and without waiver agree on an award.
I don’t think I have ever been around 6 people who agreed on anything but in this case there was absolutely no deviation of opinion among all six!
Next, following this unanimous conclusion, the judge undermines the jurors and negates their decision.
This is very bad.
Why bother having a jury system if the judge will ignore the will of the jurors; especially when his honor himself instructed them!
I think this is clearly a case where someone has an in with the judge which out powered the jury system.
This is scary and underscores that the judicial system is anything but judicial and that it really does pay to know low people in high places.
I think everyone who believed in the judicial system is entitled to an award for emotional distress after what Superior Court Judge Menelaos W. Toskos has exposed the system to be.
Judge Toskos can be reached at 201-527-2675