MANALAPAN — Representatives of the Western Monmouth Utilities Authority (WMUA) announced that the authority has settled its September 2008 lawsuit filed against James Cleary to recover post-employment health benefits premiums paid by the WMUA to the state health benefits program.
Cleary is the WMUA’s former attorney.
“The WMUA Board of Commissioners is pleased to bring this matter to a close, ensuring that the ratepayers’ financial interests were protected while avoiding a lengthy and costly legal battle,” WMUA Board of Commissioners Chairman Eric Abraham said in a press release.
According to the press release, the lawsuit filed by the WMUA in September 2008 against James Cleary and Frank Abate in state Superior Court to recover post-employment health benefits premiums paid by the WMUA to the state health benefits program for post-employment health benefits for Cleary has been withdrawn and Cleary has agreed to withdraw his appeal before the state Health Benefits Commission.
Abate is the former executive director of the WMUA. He is presently serving a prison sentence for illegal actions taken during his tenure as the authority’s director.
The WMUA’s legal case against Cleary and Abate no longer exists, according to the authority.
The press release states that Cleary has refunded to the WMUA all of the premiums the WMUA paid for Cleary’s post-employment health benefits so as to avoid the unnecessary burden and expense of further litigation. Cleary has denied liability and this settlement in no way implies any wrongdoing by Cleary, according to the authority.
“This agreement will allow the WMUA to move forward and continue our efforts on providing our ratepayers with an efficient, reliable and affordable service,” Abraham said.
The WMUA operates an advanced wastewater sewage treatment plant, which provides sewage treatment service to 27,000 residential customers in Manalapan, Marlboro, Englishtown, and part of northern Freehold Township.

