'Pooping Super' Now Tries To Win His Lawsuit In State Court

HOLMDEL, NJ — The lawsuits don't stop coming from attorney Matthew Adams and his client Thomas Tramaglini, the former school superintendent charged with pooping on the Holmdel High track.

Three weeks after a judge threw out his federal lawsuit against the Holmdel police department, Tramaglini turned around and filed a new civil suit, this time in state superior court in Monmouth County.

In the new suit, Tramaglini makes much of the same argument: That Holmdel police sought to humiliate him by leaking his mugshot to the media after they say they caught him pooping on the high school track and football field. Tramaglini says the resulting media frenzy caused him to lose his $147,504-a-year job as superintendent of the Kenilworth school district, and made it difficult for him to find work again. His school-aged children were also harassed and teased, his lawyer says.

On Sept. 9, U.S. District Court Judge Anne E. Thompson threw out Tramaglini's first suit, saying the cops were within their rights to take and disseminate a mugshot of Tramaglini.

After that was tossed, Tramaglini's lawyer filed the new suit on Wednesday of this week, Oct. 2 in Monmouth County superior court in Freehold.

So far, Tramaglini has had difficultly advancing his legal claim: Earlier this year, his same lawyer also asked New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal to investigate the Holmdel police department over this, but so far it appears the AG's office has declined to take up the case.

Tramaglini also aimed his ire at the editors of NJ.com, as he directed his lawyer to send them a threatening letter last May, warning them not to destroy any emails or communications about his story, alleging that their reporting on him was biased and malicious. Adams says then-NJ.com news director Christopher Kelly was overheard saying "let's have some fun with this" when Tramaglini's story first broke.

Adams previously filed court documents claiming potential damages of more than $1 million as well as emotional distress and invasion of privacy.

"We are going after everyone that conspired to ruin this man's life," Adams told Patch earlier this year.

Taking his mugshot was punitive — and illegal — his lawyer argues, as he was only slapped with two municipal ordinance violations that day: Littering and public defecation. Both carry the same legal weight as a parking ticket.

The lewdness charge, a third-degree crime, was sent to him a few days later in the mail — an attempt by Holmdel police to cover for themselves in taking the mugshot.

Late last year, Tramaglini admitted to one charge of public defecation, saying he has to "urgently" use the bathroom when he runs and that he went under the Holmdel High bleachers. He paid a $500 fine.

In his latest suit, Tramaglini is seeking unspecified damages and to have his legal fees paid.

Read: Suit Tossed For Ex-Super Who Pooped Under Holmdel Bleachers

Pooping Superintendent Asks AG To Investigate Leaks In Holmdel PD

Superintendent In Pooping Case Goes On Offensive Against NJ.com