John Paff Reports on NJ Civil Settlements
Friday, March 07, 2025
CNBNEWS NOTE: John Paff, a longtime Libertarian from New Jersey, has informed CNBNews
that he is now retired in Florida. However, while he may be living in Florida, a quick look at
snippets from some of his articles and more of his posts on his website shows that John is far from retiring. He reminds me of myself. I have announced several times during my five-plus decades of reporting that I was hanging up my typewriter and computer, but each time, I was drawn back by a news story that I just had to investigate and write. Please send all comments regarding John to his email address, [email protected]. ~Wm E. Cleary Sr., Editor
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NJ Civil Settlements
A partial list of settlements paid by New Jersey government agencies and their insurers to those who have sued them.
CNBNews graphic files
The Deceased was arrested by Brooklawn Police Department
Camden County and CFG Health Settle Wrongful Death Lawsuit for $325,000
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CAMDEN CITY, NJ--On December 14, 2024, Camden County (NJ) and CFG Health Systems finalized a $325,000 settlement with the family of a man who died by suicide at the Camden County Correctional Facility (CCCF) in May 2018. CFG Health Systems is the private company responsible for providing medical care to inmates at the facility.
The lawsuit, filed in 2020 by Justin W. Ferriola’s parents, alleged that Ferriola was arrested on May 12, 2018, by officers from the Brooklawn Police Department. According to the complaint, Ferriola was experiencing severe emotional distress following the recent deaths of two close friends and pleaded with officers not to take him into custody. Despite this, he was arrested for probation violations and drug-related offenses and subsequently transferred to CCCF.
The lawsuit claimed that upon his admission to CCCF, Ferriola was not properly evaluated for medical or psychological conditions. His parents alleged that he exhibited withdrawal symptoms, signs of depression, and suicidal ideation but was neither adequately monitored nor provided with appropriate medical care. Between May 17 and May 18, 2018, Ferriola reportedly sought medical assistance three times, complaining of health issues. The complaint further asserted that medical staff failed to provide necessary treatment, which ultimately led to his death.
The Borough of Brooklawn and its police department were dismissed from the case by a June 23, 2023 order of Superior Court Judge Donald J. Stein.
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Former Audubon Student Reaches $960,000 Settlement with Board of Education
AUDUBON, NJ --On November 7, 2024, a former student reached a $960,000 settlement with the Audubon Board of Education (Camden County, NJ), concluding the school district’s involvement in a lawsuit that alleged sexual abuse by a former junior high school teacher in the early 1980s.
The Audubon Board of Education denied any wrongdoing but agreed to settle the case rather than proceed to trial. The settlement agreement stipulates that the former student will receive a total of $960,000 in exchange for releasing all claims against the school district and related parties. The agreement explicitly states that it does not release the former teacher from liability, leaving the possibility open that a separate settlement with him exists. Since settlement agreements between private parties are not subject to the Open Public Records Act (OPRA), that settlement, if it exists, will remain confidential unless one of the parties discloses it.
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Glassboro Police Officer Settles Disciplinary Case Over Alleged “Racist Stereotype” in Venmo Payment
On February 19, 2025, Glassboro (Gloucester County, NJ) Police Chief Ryan Knight approved a settlement agreement resolving a borough police officer’s appeal of a 45-day suspension. The disciplinary action stemmed from the officer’s use of the words “chicken dinner” and a related emoji in a Venmo payment description, which two fellow officers perceived as racially insensitive.
In his 2023 lawsuit challenging his suspension, Kenneth Kuzniasz, a Glassboro police officer since 2001 with no prior disciplinary history, recounted that in March 2021, he used Venmo to reimburse fellow officer David Byerley for a meal. When prompted by the app to describe the payment, he entered “chicken dinner.” Venmo then suggested that he choose an emoji to accompany the transaction. Believing the selection of an emoji was required, Kuzniasz said he chose the first option presented: a cartoon depicting a smiling Black family of four—two adults and two children—sitting at a dinner table with plates of food. Above the image, a banner read: “FAMILY DINNER.”
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Vineland Board of Education Quietly Settled Lawsuit with Former Student for $150,000
VINELAND, NJ--On February 16, 2024, the Vineland Board of Education in Cumberland County, NJ, signed a confidential agreement to pay $150,000 to a former Vineland High School student. The student, referred to in court documents only by her initials A.T.V., alleged that school officials failed to protect her from being sexually assaulted by another student.
According to the lawsuit, A.T.V., who was a freshman at the time, was in an unlocked second-floor computer lab at Vineland High School on December 5, 2019, when a male student entered and sexually assaulted her.
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Robbinsville Board of Education Settles Age Discrimination Lawsuit for $115,000
JANUARY 20, 2025
In a confidential agreement dated November 15, 2024, the Robbinsville Board of Education (Mercer County, NJ) agreed to pay $115,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by a 63-year-old former high school nurse who alleged age discrimination in her termination.
According to the lawsuit, three younger, less experienced nurses with fewer certifications were retained, even though selecting any one of them for termination instead of her would have resulted in greater cost savings for the district. The former nurse argued that her termination constituted age discrimination in violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.
Of the $115,000 total settlement, $82,000 was issued directly to the former school nurse with the remaining $33,000 going to her attorney.
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Two Inmate Lawsuits Over Broken Jaws: Cumberland County Jail Settles One for $50K, Another Still Pending
Two lawsuits—one resolved through a settlement and the other still pending—allege that the Cumberland County Jail in New Jersey is a dangerous facility where violence between inmates occurs due to the jail’s failure to enforce or follow proper policies.
In his lawsuit, William Jackson of Bridgeton claimed that during his incarceration in February 2018, he was warned by his brother, also an inmate, that being placed in A Dorm or C Dorm was unsafe. Jackson alleged that friends of a person he had been accused (but later cleared) of murdering were housed in those dorms and intended to harm him. Jackson said he informed Correctional Officer Dominique Fowlkes of his fears and requested placement in a safer block. While Fowlkes allegedly assured him that he would not be placed in A Dorm or C Dorm, Jackson was ultimately assigned to A Dorm. Within ten minutes of his placement, Jackson said he was sucker-punched by another inmate, knocking him unconscious. He was transported to Inspira Medical Center in Vineland, where he was diagnosed with a fractured right jaw. Jackson further claimed that inadequate follow-up medical care during his incarceration left him needing his jaw re-broken and reset.
On May 21, 2024, Jackson settled his lawsuit for $50,000 in exchange for dismissing all claims and agreeing not to make disparaging statements about the jail or its employees.
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Woodlynne Agrees to $150,000 Settlement with Man Over Police Misconduct Claims
WOODLYNNE, NJ --On March 22, 2024, the Borough of Woodlynne (Camden County, NJ) agreed to pay $150,000 to a Philadelphia man who claimed that he was roughed up by police despite having done nothing wrong.
According to his November 4, 2020, lawsuit, Eric D. Blanding went to the Quick Mart at Ferry and Mount Ephraim Avenue, Woodlynne, to buy cigars shortly before midnight on November 9, 2018. While he was there, a fight broke out between a man and a woman, and the woman left the scene. Woodlynne police officers arrived during this time.
As Blanding attempted to leave the store, Officers Javier Acevedo and (no first name provided) Perez allegedly grabbed him, took him outside, and threw him against a wall, causing his chest to strike the surface. Blanding was handcuffed and placed in the back of a patrol car.Blanding claimed that he repeatedly asked Officer Acevedo why he was being detained and explained that the individual involved in the altercation had left the scene. He allegedly told Acevedo “that he had just gone to the store to make a purchase and had not done anything wrong.” However, the officer provided no explanation. He was taken to the police station and held there, still without being informed of any charges, according to the lawsuit.
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