Olzacki Files Revised Complaint

More than three months after Michael Olzacki’s lawsuit against East Hampton Police Chief Matthew Reimondo was served, the case has gotten little traction in court as it was quickly bogged down by motions.

Olzacki, who was turned down for a position as assistant animal control officer two years ago, filed the lawsuit against Reimondo back in October. The town was initially named as a defendant as well, but has since been dropped.

The defense first requested an extension of time to answer the complaint, which was granted. It then motioned for a request to revise, seeking clarification on some aspects of the complaint. Olzacki’s objection to that motion was denied.

The complaint has still not been answered by the defense, but that should change soon. Olzacki, represented by attorney Ken Barber of East Hampton, submitted a revised complaint dated Jan. 27, which addresses the requested clarifications.

Olzacki applied for the position of assistant animal control officer in November 2009. During the hiring process, personal information was provided by him and gathered by the police department, which conducted a background investigation. In March 2010, Olzacki was informed by a letter from Reimondo that he would not be hired for the ACO position.

Between Oct. 29, 2010, and Nov. 4, 2010, Olzacki submitted Freedom of Information requests to the town for the emails, texts and phone records of Reimondo and parks and recreation director Ruth Plummer.

This suit followed.

In the complaint, Olzacki alleges that his personal information was disclosed by Reimondo in a series of emails and attachments to his wife, Kathie Reimondo, Plummer, East Hampton librarian Sue Berescik and Renee Ghent, who is not employed by the town. The complaint states that because none of these individuals were relevant to the hiring or review process for the police department’s animal control officer position, they have “no right or privilege to view or have knowledge of private personal data of Town employees or applicants.”

The complaint further alleges that at a town meeting on Oct. 5, 2010, Reimondo made statements disclosing certain personal data about Olzacki.

At the heart of the revised complaint is an attachment to an email Reimondo sent to his wife, Plummer and Ghent. The revision goes into significantly greater detail and attaches the document at the end of the complaint. Among other things, the document, a memo sent from Reimondo to then-Town Manager Jeffrey O'Keefe, called Olzacki's resume "quite weak" and his work history "uneven." It also said Olzacki was "unable to maintain an unbiased position with regard to political matters in East Hampton" and that his "attitudes have high potential to adversely affect the day-to-day operations of this agency, just as they did during the candidate's previous period of employment with us." It also says that "Mr. Olzacki's inability to keep his political/personal opinions to himself does not meet the job's professional mandate or its standards." And Reimondo questions Olzacki's health in the memo, saying there is "clearly a concern as to whether or not he is in good physical health."

Olzacki is seeking money damages, attorney fees, court costs and other equitable relief deemed appropriate by the court.