A former fire chief contends that two firefighters were key conspirators in ousting him as chief and should be added as defendants in his lawsuit against the Eighth Utilities District.
Paul Litrico claims in court filings that he did not know the two men were involved in plotting against him four years ago until district board member John Topping revealed their names during a deposition this year.
Matthew Shanley, a paid firefighter/EMT with the district, and Alex Zajac, a paid dispatcher and volunteer assistant chief, should be added as defendants because they "played an integral role" in events that led to Litrico's wrongful removal as chief, according to a motion by his attorney, Eric Daigle. In 2014, Litrico sued the district and members of the board of directors, including Topping, who did not reappoint him as chief in 2012. Litrico contends in the pending suit that district officials slandered him, leading to a criminal investigation in which he was accused of falsifying records to grant tax breaks to certain firefighters.