Cape Man Sues Yarmouth For $5 Million, Accuses Police Of Libel

YARMOUTH, MA — A South Dennis man filed a $5 million lawsuit against the The Town of Yarmouth claiming libel and that his civil rights were violated by police when he was banned from St. Pius School after an incident in January 2017. In the lawsuit Howard Nossek, 60, said he dropped off his son at school and on the way home, stopped at the school to ask people where he could get his son a puppy.

The plaintiff said he rang the bell at the front door to the school and asked a school official if they knew anyone giving away puppies. According to the lawsuit, Nossek received a negative response,so he walked back to his car.

Before getting back in his car, Nossek asked an adult the same question. The adult asked Nossek to leave the area, according to the lawsuit. Nossek began driving away and saw a group of children. The lawsuit said he rolled down his window, asked the students the question, but then the adult ran to his car and screamed at him to leave, the lawsuit said.

Yarmouth police in a statement following the incident said school officials and parents called police because they thought Nossek was acting suspiciously. Police said he tried getting inside the school to ask students how to get a puppy, and school officials were concerned.

Police said they spoke with Nossek at his home, who admitted to asking adults and students about where to get a puppy. He denied any criminal intent. Yarmouth police called the Cape and Islands District Attorney's office, and determined no criminal charges could be filed. Nossek was given official trespass warnings and was banned from school property, police said.

But in the lawsuit, Nossek argued him and his wife Ignaldi Nossek, also a plaintiff in the case, were harassed by police. The lawsuit argued police came to their home three times, tried to search it twice and told Ignaldi Nossek she and her son were in danger because of her husband.

Howard Nossek said police accused him of lying about his intentions and told him they will make sure he's banned from every school and event that has children on Cape Cod, the lawsuit argued.

Nossek also argued the police department committed libel because they posted his name and address on Facebook. According to the lawsuit, this led a group of parents to call Cape Cod Academy's headmaster and request he be banned from school property. The lawsuit said the banw as granted, and Cape Cod Academy was also sued in the case.