Suffolk NYCLU Announces Settlement in Village of Northport Free Speech Case

Suffolk NYCLU Announces Settlement in Village of Northport Free Speech Case

June 8, 2005 Click here to read about the filing and the complaint Suffolk County, New York: Suffolk County, New York: The Suffolk County Chapter of the NYCLU today announces a settlement in Suchochi v. Village of Northport, a case involving the free speech rights of public employees. “The Suffolk NYCLU hopes this settlement serves as a reminder for public officials that their primary responsibility is protecting the rights of the public, not abusing their authority for personal grudges,” said Jared Feuer, Executive Director of the Suffolk NYCLU. Michael Suchochi was denied the seasonal position of Dockmaster in 2004, despite being offered the position from 2001-2003. The Suffolk NYCLU charged that the denial was due to Mr. Suchochi’s protest of the suspension of Northport’s police chief, Ric Bruckenthal. During the winter of 2003-2004, Mr. Suchochi parked his Jeep with mounted signs stating, “We support Ric and our Police Force” in front of The Northport Sweet Shop, owned by the Mayor of Northport, Peter Panarites. When questioned why he was not reoffered employment during a May 18, 2004 meeting of the Northport Board of Trustees, Mayor Panarites told Mr. Suchochi, “I don’t compliment people who put up signs on cars and harass people.” After the meeting, Mayor Panarites made additional comments about Mr. Suchochi to a reporter for The Northport Observer, stating, “He can express himself once in a while but to keep doing it day in and day out is ridiculous. That’s not the kind of person I want to manage our docks.” The Suffolk NYCLU charged the Village and Mayor Panarites with denying the constitutional rights of Mr. Suchochi by refusing him employment due to First Amendment protected activity. The case was settled on June 2, 2005, and the Village of Northport has agreed to provide financial reparation of $15,000 to Mr. Suchochi. “My right to free speech should never have been violated, and I am glad that the Village has been forced to right the wrong,” said Mr. Suchochi. Alan Polsky, an attorney based in Bohemia, NY, served as cooperating counsel in this case. The Suffolk NYCLU is the local presence of the New York Civil Liberties Union. With a membership of 4,000, the Chapter works across Suffolk County in courts, local governments and with local advocacy groups to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by law.  

Suffolk NYCLU Sues Village of Northport for Violating the Free Speech Protections of Job Applicant October 13, 2004

Suffolk County, New York: The Suffolk County Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union (Suffolk NYCLU) has filed a lawsuit against the Village of Northport and Northport Mayor Peter Panarites for violating the free speech protections of Michael Suchocki, an applicant for seasonal employment as a Village Dockmaster. Suchocki, offered employment as a Dockmaster in 2001, 2002 and 2003, was denied a summer 2004 position after a winter in which he had protested the suspension of the Village Police Chief. During an April Town Board meeting, Suchocki inquired why he was not reoffered a position and was told by Panarites, “I do not compliment people that put up signs.” After the Board meeting, Panarites expanded on his remarks to the Northport Observer, stating, “He can express himself once in a while, but to keep doing it day in and day out is ridiculous.” “Despite the Mayor’s hurt feelings, he can not use his position to undermine the Constitutional rights of his critics,” said Jared Feuer, Executive Director of the Suffolk NYCLU. “Denying employment to Mr. Suchocki was entirely beyond the pale of proper actions by a public servant.” The Suffolk NYCLU charges the Village and Mayor Panarites with denying the Constitutional rights of Suchocki by refusing him employment due to First Amendment protected activity. “Free speech protections for government employees and applicants are written into the fabric of our laws,” said Alan Polsky, who will handle the case and is Legal Director of the Suffolk NYCLU. “Mr. Suchocki’s protest was unrelated to his employment qualifications. A government employee or applicant does not abandon his First Amendment rights and may not be punished for exercising them.” Suchocki is seeking earnings lost over the 2004 summer season, damages from the violation of his Constitutional rights, and reinstatement as a Dockmaster in the 2005 summer season.