Community Corner

Manager Accused Of Anti-Semitic Rant Fired From Eatontown Eatery

The owner of Maurizio's Pizzeria & Italian Ristorante apologized and said they have 'no tolerance' for discrimination.

A manager at Maurizio Pizzeria & Italian Ristorante in Eatontown made anti-Semitic remarks to a Jewish employee, a lawsuit states.
A manager at Maurizio Pizzeria & Italian Ristorante in Eatontown made anti-Semitic remarks to a Jewish employee, a lawsuit states. (Google Earth)

EATONTOWN, NJ — The owner of an Eatontown pizzeria fired a manager accused of making an anti-Semitic rant to an employee. Schiano Dola also posted an apology outside the door of Maurizio's Pizzeria & Italian Ristorante.

Nicholas Bogan, a former delivery driver, filed a discrimination lawsuit. The lawsuit states that his manager, Francesco Scott Di Rinaldi, went on an anti-Semitic rant after Bogan asked for the first night of Rosh Hashana off, the lawsuit says.

Read more: Eatontown Pizza Boss Went On Anti-Semitic Rant To Worker: Suit

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Dola told Patch he didn't know about the rant until several media outlets reported it around Jan. 9. He said his family was on vacation when the lawsuit broke.

Ownership posted an apology outside the restaurant's door. It says the following:

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"As the owner of Maurizio's Pizzeria and Restaurant, I am DEVASTATED about this horrible incident. In my 30 years as a business owner (I) have no tolerance for ignorance and discrimination.

"Mr. Rinaldi IS NOT (sic) LONGER WORKING FOR MY Establishment, he was fired as the moment I came to Find out what he had said.

"My Family and I want to extend our Heartfelt APOLIGIES (sic) to our Jewish friends and Patrons as well as Everyone in our Beloved Community who have supported us for over 20 years. Thank you."

Ownership also publicly apologized to Bogan, but Dola said the business hasn't been in touch with him since the incident broke.

When Bogan asked Di Rinaldi for the first night of Rosh Hashana off, Di Rinaldi responded with a rant against Jewish people, the lawsuit says.

Di Rinaldi wrote "(Expletive) the Jewish. Put them on fire (fire emoji). Like Hitler was trying to do. He had a point," according to a screenshot of the messages attached to the lawsuit.

Bogan responded with three "crying laughing" emojis in an attempt to defuse the situation.

But then Di Rinaldi "doubled down," according to the complaint. The manager responded that he "can't stand" Jewish people or "Indians as well," and that both groups "don't belong in America," according to the screenshot.

The teen never returned to work because he was "deeply shaken and did not feel safe returning," according to the court documents.

Bogan's parents — Bradley and Felicia Bogan — brought the lawsuit, seeking back pay, benefits and punitive damages.

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