SCHENECTADY COUNTY Mallozzis face countersuit Republican Party official calls brothers’ case ‘frivolous’ BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
A 2-year-old defamation lawsuit filed by the Mallozzi family against two Republican candidates for Schenectady County Legislature has taken a new turn. Joseph Suhrada and William Sherman have filed a countersuit in state Supreme Court. They are seeking summary judgment and damages of at least $50,000 from Robert A. and John A. Mallozzi. “They are seeking attorney fees, which are more than $50,000, plus damages for a frivolous case,” said Thomas Buchanan, chairman of the Schenectady County Republican Committee. Buchanan is not part of the lawsuit but is closely monitoring it. “We have a keen interest to see that our First Amendment rights are preserved,” he said. The countersuit alleges the Mallozzi brothers filed their action, which Buchanan termed a strategic lawsuit against public participation, or SLAPP, to affect Suhrada’s and Sherman’s participation in the election. Legal experts said a SLAPP is litigation used by organizations or individuals to intimidate and silence critics or opponents by burdening them with the cost of a legal defense. Buchanan said Suhrada and Sherman have racked up at least $50,000 in legal expenses defending themselves against the Mallozzis’ lawsuit. “And the costs continue to increase,” he said. Republicans Suhrada and Sherman ran against Democrats Christine Mallozzi-Chiaravalle and Judith Dagostino for two seats on the county Legislature in District 4, which encompasses Rotterdam, Duanesburg and Princetown, in November 2006. Suhrada and Dagostino, both incumbents, won reelection. After the election, Mallozzi-Chiaravalle’s brothers filed suit against Sherman and Suhrada in state Supreme Court. The brothers claimed the two Republicans used defamatory statements in mailings to District 4 residents and in a news release sent out during the hotly contested election. The Republican mailings used the word “corruption” to describe “backroom deals [that] gave $500,000 of your taxes to Mallozzi’s Villa Italia to leave Rotterdam for the city.” The word “corruption” also was used for the statement: “Defrauded taxpayers by taking over $105,000 worth of mulch for our towns for Mallozzi’s private homes.” A news release claimed, in connection with the Villa Italia project: “It’s time we end corruption and backdoor deals in Schenectady.” In their lawsuit, the Mallozzis said the Rotterdam Town Board had authorized the highway superintendent to deliver 3,000 yards of ground yard waste to the Mallozzi property on Montabello court. It called the delivery a “cost-saving measure.” Police investigated and found that no crime had been committed. Robert Mallozzi directed calls to his attorney, Paul Briggs. Briggs was not available for comment Monday.
Oh boy!!!!!!............ a distraction..........now I can go to the market and read the magazine covers and smile while I pay that large grocery bill......just like the enquirer......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Uh oh....the reps are stirring up the democratic beast. Well folks, take a seat, this will be quite interesting.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Not hearing much from the dems lately in the Gazette. Pro or Con. Must be they are rallying the troops and getting ready for a major assault!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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