Lehmann Law Office - $60,000 Defamation Settlement - The Union Leader
NASHUA — The city will pay $60,000 to a former school board member to settle an ongoing defamation lawsuit.
After the use of a private mediator, the city has agreed to settle the civil lawsuit brought forward by George Farrington against the city and Superintendent Jahmal Mosley.
The aldermanic finance committee recently approved the $60,000 settlement.
“I believe this amount reflects the seriousness of the wrong that was done to me and the harm my reputation suffered based on Dr. Mosley’s false statements,” Farrington said in a statement.
The lawsuit was filed after Mosley had a no-trespass order issued March 29, 2018, that prevented Farrington from entering the school administrative offices on Ledge Street for one year.
On that day, Mosley contacted police stating that Farrington was at his office and “being disorderly,” at which time Mosley hung up the phone, according to a police report. According to the report, Mosley “would provide limited information and hang up.”
Farrington was at the office to pick up requested documents, at which time he received permission from a receptionist to visit a friend in the back office who was retiring.
“George began to walk back to the office when he was stopped by Dr. Mosley. George stated Dr. Mosley became very upset and demanded he leave,” says the report, adding Farrington insisted that it was a public building and refused to leave.
Four police officers responded to the incident. Mosley told police that when Farrington left the lobby area and entered the superintendent’s suite, that it was “creating an unsafe working environment for the employees within the building,” says the report.
The following weekend, Mosley circulated an email to school board members that suggested Farrington had engaged in conduct that caused him to fear for his safety and the safety of his family, according to Farrington.
“This suggestion is absolutely untrue and preposterous,” said Farrington. “I completely and unequivocally deny that I have ever done anything even remotely threatening to Dr. Mosley or his family.”
Attorney Richard Lehmann, legal counsel for Farrington, said he is pleased the city agreed to resolve the case.
“In today’s age of electronic communication and social media, a person’s reputation is their most valuable asset. George Farrington served the city of Nashua, its schools and its students for many years and did not deserve to have his reputation damaged by false allegations,” Lehmann said in a release.
And while the city does not admit any wrongdoing, Farrington said he believes the agreement to pay the $60,000 settlement reflects a recognition of Mosley’s wrongdoing toward him and the harm his reputation suffered as a result.
Farrington stressed that this situation could have been resolved nearly one year ago when he first sought an apology and payment of legal bills, which were less than $2,000 at the time.
“ ... A random lawsuit filed by a former board member quite frankly is not my focus as it has no bearing on the achievements, safety and well-being of our families, students and community. As a resident, taxpayer, school superintendent and most importantly a parent of three children in the district, I look forward to the future of this district and city and intend to be a part of it,” Mosley said on Tuesday.
NashuaNew@unionleader.com