A former employee of the Police Department has filed an MCAD (Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination) lawsuit against the town. Select Board chair Ted Murray said tonight that the town had received notification by mail of the suit.
Though both board members refused to name the former employee or give details of the suit, Select Board member Dave DeHerdt said that the suit is completely separate from the other two MCAD suits currently pending against the town. Murray said that the suit could cost the town another $10,000 – the insurance company’s deductible for defending against a lawsuit.
When asked if the additional charges will undermine the newly-finalized town budget, DeHerdt explained that the town authorized $20,000 in legal fees at a special town meeting last year. Since then, DeHerdt has challenged the insurance company’s interpretation of their contract with the town. His argument is that the two current lawsuits stem from the same actions by the same individuals, so they should be covered by the same $10,000 deductible. If his challenge is successful, that will free $10,000 to cover the deductible for the latest suit.
DeHerdt also said that, by law, if a town is forced to defend itself in a lawsuit and wins, it can demand reimbursement for legal fees.
David King
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