Ex-Mayor Sues Spring Valley, Says They're On Hook For Legal Fees

SPRING VALLEY, NY — The former mayor of Spring Valley says the village is on the hook for nearly $150,000 in legal fees incurred while he defended himself against a 2015 lawsuit from residents seeking to oust him from office.

In 2015, residents accused then-Mayor Demeza Delhomme of misconduct and malfeasance. They said Delhomme improperly fired a part-time recreation director and her mother, a village clerk.

But a referee declined to boot Delhomme out of office — saying that's a decision that should be made by voters — and an appeals panel upheld that decision.

Now, Delhomme has filed a lawsuit alleging that three trustees unlawfully denied repayment to Delhomme's attorneys out out of political motivations. Under state law, the February lawsuit says, the village must cover his legal costs, as it would to any other village employee.

"Any village employees sued arising out of his or her duties for the village is statutorily entitled to have their legal fees paid by the village," Delhomme's attorney, Kenneth Brown, told the Journal News. "It doesn't matter if the person is mayor, clerk or a driver."

The lawsuit says that even before the referee ruling, two judges found the village must pay Delhomme's legal fees.

Brown told the newspaper he hopes a settlement is reached before the deadline for a response from the village, which is May 2.

When asked for comment, village Attorney Amy Mele would only say the matter "arose during the prior administration’s watch." She said the new administration will have to review the history of the case and then figure out how to proceed.

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