the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Cliffside Park NJ, a former Cliffside Park EMT has filed a lawsuit against the borough, alleging that officials offered him a full-time position in exchange for ignoring questionable directives and later fired him in retaliation for raising concerns.
Lawsuit Filed Against Cliffside Park Officials
Timothy Horner, a military veteran who joined Cliffside Park as an EMT in June 2023, claims he was wrongfully terminated in January 2024 after objecting to several questionable requests from the department’s director, Michael Russo.
The lawsuit, filed March 3 in Bergen County Superior Court, names the borough, Russo, Assistant Director of Emergency Services William Bringas, and Dispatcher Danielle Betts as defendants.
Allegations of Improper Directives
According to the lawsuit, Horner repeatedly raised concerns about directives he believed were illegal, unethical, or compromised patient care, including:
- October 2023: Horner was offered a full-time EMT position, which he believed was a quid pro quo for not questioning an ambulance transport of a political ally of Russo to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. This transport reportedly left the borough without ambulance service for four hours.
- September 2023: Horner was dispatched to an intoxicated individual’s home, where a Cliffside Park police officer allegedly instructed him to leave the individual at their residence rather than providing medical care. Dispatcher Danielle Betts allegedly told him to “let it go” and avoid filing a report.
- October 2023: Horner was directed to transport an individual to the Veterans Administration Clinic in East Orange under suspicious circumstances. He claims Russo instructed him to use emergency lights unnecessarily, not maintain a medical chart, and ensure that no bill was generated.
Horner alleges that despite his concerns, a meeting with Russo was never scheduled. Instead, he was told he would be given a full-time role, which he believes was an attempt to silence his objections.
Retaliation and Wrongful Termination
After continuing to push for answers, Horner alleges that his full-time job offer was rescinded and that he was later suspended and ultimately fired in retaliation for raising concerns.
- December 2023: Horner was suspended for two weeks after questioning shift policies.
- January 2024: Horner was terminated, allegedly as a direct result of his whistleblowing efforts.
The lawsuit also claims that the stress and anxiety from his suspension and firing triggered a medical condition, requiring emergency hospital care. Additionally, Horner alleges that the borough has failed to return his personal belongings, despite multiple requests.
Cliffside Park Officials Decline to Comment
Borough officials, including spokesman Bill Maer, did not respond to requests for comment. Messages left for Michael Russo were also not returned.
The case is ongoing, with Horner seeking legal action for wrongful termination, retaliation, and emotional distress.
Final Thoughts
This lawsuit raises serious questions about Cliffside Park’s EMT department and its leadership. If the allegations hold, it could expose misconduct and ethical violations within the borough’s emergency services.
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Best typical blackmail, I offer you a job to keep your mouth shut. I would tell him go piss up a rope.