Settlement for Officer's Lawsuit Available Soon

A copy of a settlement agreement for a lawsuit that was filed against the borough and police chief by a former Madison police patrolman could be available soon, Madison borough attorney Matthew Giacobbe said Monday.

The attorneys who represented Madison in the lawsuit are expected to provide a copy of the settlement agreement later this week or early next week, Giacobbe said.

Once Madison has the copy, it can be requested under the Open Public Records Act, he said.

"Under OPRA, anyone in the public, members of the press, can file an OPRA request and will be able to get a copy of it, so I anticipate by the next meeting that will be available," Giacobbe said during Monday's Borough Council meeting.

The plaintiff in the case, retired Patrolman Anthony Kaspereen, claimed he suffered health problems due to a "punishment detail" he alleged he was given by the police chief over the summer in 2010. The assignment reportedly involved walking downtown Madison for nine hours at a time, and other officers being instructed not to assist him. The lawsuit says Kaspereen suffered dehydration and post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the detail.

The borough denied in court documents that the assignment was given as punishment.

Giacobbe said officials will not be able to discuss the case because the agreement contains confidentiality clauses.