It was a mixed decision in court this afternoon in a lawsuit filed against the town of Alma and its supervisor. In June, the town of Alma was sued for $100,000+ by attorney's for Dan Ford, the elected highway superintendent. The suit followed months of controversy between the town and Ford. The town stopped recognizing Ford as the Highway Superintendent. It stopped paying him and threatened to end his health insurance and other benefits. The court said no to that plan.
In Cattaraugus County court Thursday afternoon (Allegany County judges recused themselves) and according to Alma Supervisor Ron Staedt, Judge Jeremiah J. Moriarty III dismissed the federal portion of the lawsuit which demanded a $100,000 payment for quote "emotional distress and mental anguish. The judge, did however, say that further court action, via an Article 78 hearing, was required in Allegany County regarding the town's failure to pay wages in the amount of $18,410.51.
The insurance company, representing the town, was dismissed from the lawsuit. Supervisor Staedt said "the town will appeal payment of wages." He told us he has "mixed reactions" to the decision but added that "the town did the best it could." Today's Order to Show Cause hearing lasted about an hour.
