Christopher Massey Alleges Breach of Contract in Lawsuit Against Bergenfield
Bergenfield NJ, Deputy Chief Christopher Massey of the Bergenfield Police Department has filed a lawsuit against several borough officials, alleging that he was wrongfully denied compensation for sick days accumulated over nearly three decades of service.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in New Jersey Superior Court before Judge Gregg Padovano, claims that Bergenfield officials violated his employment contract by failing to compensate him for sick leave after accusing him of abusing the borough’s leave policy.
Borough Officials Named in the Lawsuit
The lawsuit names the following Bergenfield officials as defendants:
- Mayor Arvin Amatorio
- Borough Administrator Corey Gallo
- All six members of the Borough Council
- The Borough of Bergenfield
As of Thursday afternoon, neither Mayor Amatorio, Administrator Gallo, nor Borough Attorney John Schettino had responded to requests for comment.
Massey’s Employment Agreement & Sick Leave Dispute
Massey, a member of the Bergenfield Police Department since 1995, entered into a five-year employment agreement in December 2020 that guaranteed him unlimited sick leave. The contract also stated that if borough officials suspected abuse of the sick leave policy, Massey would be limited to 15 sick days per year but would still be credited with 15 days for each year of service.
However, in April 2023, Massey received a letter from borough officials accusing him of abusing the policy for using sick leave for knee and shoulder surgeries. The letter limited his sick days to 15 without awarding him the additional credited time outlined in his contract.
Key Allegations in Massey’s Lawsuit
- Wrongful denial of 435 sick days – The lawsuit states that after 29 years of service, Massey should have accrued at least 435 sick days based on the contract terms.
- Breach of contract – The borough allegedly failed to honor Massey’s employment agreement, refusing to credit him with additional sick time or compensate him accordingly.
- Legal relief sought – Massey is requesting a judgment entitling him to 435 sick days, along with payment for legal fees and other related costs.
Massey’s 2020 salary was $185,328, as per his contract details included in the lawsuit.
A History of Legal Battles with Bergenfield Officials
This lawsuit marks the second time in less than five months that Massey has taken legal action against Bergenfield. In September 2023, he sued borough officials—including Gallo, council members, and Police Chief Mustafa Rabboh—alleging:
- Age discrimination
- Retaliation
- Hostile work environment after being passed over for the Police Chief position
Additionally, in February 2020, Massey filed a federal lawsuit accusing the borough of reverse racial discrimination, claiming that Rabboh was promoted to police chief based on race. Later that year, he and another officer filed departmental complaints against Rabboh for policy violations.
What’s Next for Massey’s Lawsuit?
As legal proceedings unfold, Bergenfield officials have yet to publicly respond to Massey’s allegations. This case will likely continue to gain attention as it raises concerns about contractual obligations, workplace policies, and municipal leadership accountability.
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You see how they play games, you never ever trust the top and this guy is the police chief you say. That’s why it’s not worth building up your time. All these people think they’re gonna leave with a big paycheck. They cry when you use your sick time Personal time vacation time comp time then you go to retire you want your money and they give you some bullshit story. That’s why I use all my time. I don’t give anything back screw them. It’s my time I earned it. Get back time kiss my ass.
Use them or lose them.
Exactly it’s in your contract. Use it, they’re not gonna keep on writing checks to everyone that has built up time and just say here you go ,no use it. Stop being greedy. It’s there in your contract to use.
These money grabs need to be stopped everywhere. Same with retirement computations where folks work 80 hours/week in their final year to boost their retirement benefit. This will require you voters to look for the big R on future ballots.