Frank Ricci threatens new federal lawsuit in New Haven
You’d think the one person the City of New Haven might not want to tangle with again over a promotion is the man who was the lead plaintiff in a federal lawsuit decided by the U.S. Supreme Court that cost the City $2 million for unfairly denying 19 firefighters promotions. But Captain Frank Ricci of Ricci v. DeStefano fame has made it clear that another federal lawsuit could be coming soon if New Haven officials don’t do the right thing.
Captain Ricci says the New Haven Fire Department improperly appointed an interim director of training when they passed over Ricci and picked his assistant for the job. Ricci presented his case to the civil service commission.
Ricci, who is an official of IAFF Local 825, says Chief Allyn Wright “circumvented the civil service process” by putting Antonio Almodovar in the interim position indefinitely. Chief Wright declined to comment, citing legal advice.
Ryan Flynn, New Haven Resister:
“I believe these transgressions are based on political horse-trading, cronyism, harassment and an effort to continue a pattern of retaliation,” Ricci wrote in a July letter to Mayor Toni Harp and the civil service commission.
The members of the commission, after hearing Ricci’s complaint this week, said they would speak with the board’s counsel to form an opinion on the allegations and then decide from there whether to compose a letter for the alders.
“To not do so will make this board culpable in a possible federal lawsuit,” Ricci said to the commission.
