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Highland Town Board sued by Marc Anthony

By Derek Kirk
Posted 3/21/23

HIGHLAND – Former Town of Highland Constable Marc Anthony has filed a lawsuit against Town Supervisor Jeff Haas, Councilperson Kaitlin Haas, and the Town Board in the Supreme Court of Sullivan …

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Highland Town Board sued by Marc Anthony

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HIGHLAND – Former Town of Highland Constable Marc Anthony has filed a lawsuit against Town Supervisor Jeff Haas, Councilperson Kaitlin Haas, and the Town Board in the Supreme Court of Sullivan County.

Anthony, represented by Stacey Van Malden, Esq. of Goldberger & Dubin, P.C., is seeking no less than $100,000 for “personal defamation” and $50,000 for “racial discrimination” from the town.

Anthony alleges a number of improprieties regarding the Town Board and their actions. 

The lawsuit additionally claims that the suspension was done by fiat, not by special referendum or election as required by law. It goes on to say that the plaintiff, Anthony, was not given a hearing, and that such actions have violated the Town Law (Article 75) which would give him the right to such a hearing.

The lawsuit claims that the details of the “substantiated charges” alleged against Anthony are false.

Constables Committee

In April of 2022, the town’s Constabulary was placed under a suspension. 

A Constables Committee was formed to investigate “various instances” that were being alleged against the Constabulary. 

A redacted version of the minutes taken of the Constables Committee meeting were released on July 18. The Democrat anonymously obtained a copy of the unredacted report. In it, Anthony was named with having “allegations regarding improper behavior of a criminal nature.”

According to Anthony, Town Supervisor Jeff Haas sent him a letter requesting he return his uniform and equipment in late August.

As a result of the suspension, the town was placed  under the jurisdiction of the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office in December, which remains the local law enforcement agency overseeing the town. 

Complaint filed

Among other allegations in the lawsuit, Anthony claims that the unredacted version obtained by the Democrat was leaked by Councilperson Haas.

It also notes that Town Supervisor Jeff Haas is being sued in his representative capacity only.

The Town Board authorized a resolution allowing Town Attorney Michael Davidoff, Esq. to represent the town following their regular Town Board meeting on March 15.

The Democrat reached out to both Anthony’s legal representative and the officials of the Town of Highland but did not receive comment from either party by presstime.

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