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Here We Go Again

Hopefully everyone is familiar with the sexual harassment case against Mayor Joseph Maturo, Jr., and most I am sure are aware of what happened minutes prior to the start of the trial back in September. If not, the parties agreed to settle out of court and agreed to a hefty payment to the plaintiff. The trial was canceled.

Court records showed that the parties were to meet again in Superior Court on Oct. 29 where the agreed upon settlement would be signed and case closed.

Any agreement made, no matter how it is spun by the lawyers and politicians, was going to cost the taxpayers a bundle. All we do know is what was on the table in September, that the plaintiff would get $175,000 and health insurance and Maturo doesn’t admit guilt.

So, along comes Oct. 29 and guess what happens? The case is back on the court’s calendar for Friday, Nov. 9 for another pre-trial conference in hopes of settling. Evidently the parties did not reach an agreement to settle and we are back to square one.

So, here we go again. More costs to the taxpayers. Maturo has his attorney. The town has at least three attorney’s. The plaintiff has her attorney. All get big bucks. If the plaintiff wins her case, will the town be paying her attorney? Such is often the case in a civil trial—the loser pays if stipulated by the court.

So, let’s hang in there. Let’s see what happens on Nov. 9—though there just may be a continuance as Mayor Maturo’s attorney informed the court he may be needed in another court on that day on another issue.

Richard Poulton

East Haven