Settlement Agreed Upon in Legal Issues Between Branford Town Officials and Wayne Cooke

The Town of Branford and resident Wayne Cooke have reached a settlement in a longstanding legal issue, the Branford Seven reports.

In 2010, Cooke filed a complaint in New Haven Superior Court in which he accused former First Selectman Anthony DaRos of publicly defaming him, according to the New Haven Register.

Cooke filed another lawsuit in 2012 against DaRos for defamation, as well as an additional lawsuit against DaRos and Barbara Neal. In the lawsuit against the two officials, Cooke alleged violation of his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.

According to the lawsuit against Neal and DaRos, the two embarked upon a series of retaliatory actions to punish Cooke for criticizing local government officials and practicing his First Amendment rights. The actions involved revoking the tax status of Cooke’s farm, Hilltop Orchards.

According to the Branford Seven, the settlement amount is between $400,000 and $600,000 and will have to be approved by the Board of Finance and the Representative Town Committee. The settlement also includes the removal of $200,000 in taxes that were levied when the tax status of Cooke’s farm was revoked.

Cooke’s lawyer Edward Marcus confirmed that a settlement had been agreed upon, the Register reports.

The settlement amount will be divided evenly between the town’s insurance carrier and the town. According to the Branford Seven, any punitive damages enforced by the jury would have to be borne by DaRos and Neal individually.

Marcus told the Register the agreement could not be binding until it was reviewed by the boards.

Read more at the Branford Seven.

Image via Shutterstock

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