EDISON — Former township employee Anthony Russomanno is in the process of settling a lawsuit he filed against his former employer.
The Township Council voted in favor of a draft settlement of the litigation. Township Attorney William W. Northgrave read the draft settlement at the council’s Jan. 23 meeting.
Russomanno, who served as a mayoral aide in 2010 and 2011, would receive $120,000 in back pay and re-employment to the township, according to the settlement. Also, trial counsel recommended $140,000 in fees be paid to Russomanno’s attorney, Thomas C. Jardim of Jardim, Meisner & Susser, Florham Park.
Russomanno said he could not comment on the settlement because it was not finalized. Jardim said a finalized agreement is expected to be complete next week.
In March 2011, Russomanno filed his lawsuit against then-Mayor Antonia Ricigliano, former Business Administrator Dennis Gonzalez and the township, alleging that his First Amendment rights were violated and that he was wrongfully terminated.
Russomanno had served as Ricigliano’s campaign manager during her 2009 mayoral run and was appointed special assistant to the mayor in January 2010 with a $65,000 annual salary. His employment with the township ended in early 2011.