Engel Will File Lawsuit Against East Hampton

The Town of East Hampton was notified on Monday that a lawsuit is forthcoming.

Melissa Engel, through her attorney Ken Barber, has informed the town by way of a letter dated July 30, that she intends to bring a lawsuit against the town and certain employees.

"The lawsuit will spring from certain acts and omissions of Town employees in investigating a complaint to the police department concerning Ms. Engel's activities that were ruled on by the Connecticut State Election Enforcement Commission in March 2012," the letter states.

The the former town council chairwoman of any misuse of absentee ballots leading up to the town referendum on Nov. 2, 2010. Prior to that decision, the police department, acting on the initial complaint from a resident, had found no wrongdoing on Engel's part but still filed a complaint against her with the SEEC.

That the department, and not the original complainant, brought the matter to the SEEC was one of several criticisms contained on the department's handling of the issue.

The third-party investigation conducted by Attorney Michael C. Harrington detailed at length a flawed investigation by Sgt. Garritt Kelly and a lack of supervision by Police Chief Matt Reimondo. However, Harrington, of Murtha and Cullina in Hartford, found no evidence the department's Code of Ethics or policy regarding Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer were violated, nor could he conclude Kelly or Reimondo acted in a discriminatory manner.

The town has not said publicly what action, if any, it will take as a result of the report, which was initiated after Engel filed her own complaint with the town, alleging, among other things, that Reimondo and Kelly acted with malice.

The notice of intent to sue, submitted to the town pursuant to state statutes, does not offer further details as to the specific charges the lawsuit will contain.

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