By Laurie Ramie
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site: tom@rue-usa.netMonticello settles $95,000 to end free speech trial
By Laurie Ramie
MONTICELLO - The village of Monticello's insurance company agreed to pay $95,000 to members of the so-called "Monticello Five" on the second day of their Federal District Court trial here.
The eigh-member jury panel convened for the proceeding before Judge Brieant was released Monday after the "Five" -- Thomas Rue, Carmen Rue, Charles Stephenson, Mary Marino and Glenn Pontier -- accepted the settlement offer.
The five individuals were arrested August 2, 1993 after they carried small signs into a Monticello Village Board meeting that protested the illegal job swaps that came to be known as Monticello's "musical chairs."
Though Sullivan County District Attorney Stephen Lungen announced in February of 1994 that he declined to pursue charges against the "Monticello Five," the defendants staked a civil rights claim for violating their protected free speech.
On the first day of testimony last Thursday, former Village Manager James Malloy, current Police Chief Michael Brennan and Police Sgt. Michael Bunce were examined.
Court was due to resume Monday at 2:00 p.m., but the settlement ended the trial.
"We agreed to a settlement because we felt that it would vindicate us and the Constitution. All of us feel elated. It took going the full route to the federal court process, but we're all pleased that the Constitution was upheld," said Thomas Rue.
The Five, who were represented by White Plains attorney Jane Gould, had originally requested $5 million in their claim, along with a written apology.
"I feel relieved and happy that we've proven that the people were wrong to arrest us. We suffered a lot of humiliation," said Carmen Rue.
In the end, the village's insurance company, National Casualty, represented by attorney Monte Rosenstein, offered to pay $95,000 total. A written apology was not part of the settlement.
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