Ritacco Drops Lawsuit Against Toms River School Board
Former superintendent, who pleaded guilty earlier this month, was suing for unpaid benefits
Michael J. Ritacco
Courtesy of WOBM/Townsquare Media.
Photos (3)
Photos
Pdfs (2)
Pdfs
Disgraced former Toms River Regional Schools Superintendent Michael J. Ritacco has dropped a lawsuit that sought his unused benefits, which the school district agreed to not pay after Ritacco retired the same day as a federal indictment for corruption charges.
The lawsuit, filed October 2011, was dismissed without prejudice by Judge Douglas Albert in U.S. Magistrate court on April 23.
Ritacco was suing for $15,000 in unused sick days, $23,750 for 25 unused vacation days from the 2008-09 school year, and $24,062.50 for 25 unused vacation days from the 2009-10 school year.
He also was suing for an undisclosed amount of money in a deferred compensation fund, in place since 2010. Ritacco had asked for the money as a lump sum.
Ritacco lawyer Bill Hughes in a letter to the court April 18 said he discussed the matter with his client and agreed to drop the lawsuit.
Each of the current members of the Toms River Regional School Board, as well as three members whose terms expired in 2011 and board attorney Thomas Monahan, were being sued in the federal lawsuit filed Oct. 25.
In February, Toms River Regional was discussing the final contract to defend the lawsuit, possibly using multiple lawyers to defend the multiple current and former board members and board attorney against the suit. In Jan. 2011, Ritacco's attorneys attended a Toms River Regional School Board meeting to publically demand the payout of the unused benefits on grounds that Ritacco had deferred the compensation for years and was due it under his contract.
In recent meetings of the school board, Monahan said the lawsuit would likely be decided after the criminal charges were resolved, and offered no further comment.
Ritacco pleaded guilty to mail fraud and conspiracy to impede the IRS, officials said. He could face 11 to 14 years jail time, according to sentencing guidelines.
Ritacco pleaded to two of the 27 charges he was facing, and admitted his role in years of corruption at the school district, where as much as $2.5 million in bribes were allegedly passed between Ritacco, insurance brokers and intermediaries.
Ritacco surrendered to federal officials Oct. 2010, the same day he submitted his retirement to the school board. The board approved his retirement in an emergency meeting that evening.
jason
11:32 am on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
i hope this guy rots in hell , and for all the people that say what a great man he was and how could we charge him with these crimes i say ... how do you feel about your hero now... i think the rest of the toms river political machine should be on high alrert. i assure you inmate Ritacco is singing like a bird.
barbara
6:33 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
would love to see him sing like a bird and bring all the rest of this county's crooks with him. Of course, being he dropped the lawsuit (what a guy) and he sings, he will get a lesser sentence. Way too much corruption in this county. Gilmore, Monahan and all those creeps need to be taken down. Hope they are sweating......
Can't shut me up
11:35 am on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
I'm counting on some sort of hidden agenda. Something is not right here.
Joseph E. Haelig
12:18 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
I wonder what Mikey will be teaching his fellow inmates.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/23/blagojevich-prison-washes-dishes_n_1447437.html?ref=denver&ncid=mobile2
jason
12:27 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Face
1:02 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
These guys kill me. They wanna play hard ball, but they don't play fair. Instead of working hard, puttin' in the work or the grind (as they say) they wanna take the easy route, on the backs of us honest folks. Now the crap hits the fan and we'll finally c the real Ritacco. We'll c the bitch come out of him as he sings like a bird and cries like a bi@#h. Dont get me wrong i am in no position to judge. I've had my run in's with the law my self, but i've always manned up when things didnt go as planned. I'm sure he will have a great welcoming commitee when he goes up state. His welcoming comitte will not b as grateful as mine was when i went down. No matter what,no matter who. U never tell on your co-defendents. Or for that matter, u never tell on anyone. That will b the determining factor in his comfort level when he goes upstae. I hate snitches and im not the only one. My kids go to these schools and its a shame that we had sum 1 like this piece of crap representing our kids. If i offended anyone with my comment, I apologize. Guyz (Girls) like this really get uder my skin. So again, im sorry. If u must respond pesonnaly. FrankOMundO@ymail.com just keep it respectful. Chow, FrankOMundO
Face
1:06 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Bubba says Mikey ? Yo name is now Michelle. Now wash my draws girl !!!!!
bayway mike
2:12 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
I remembr a few years ago the BOE stated that Mike was worth his weight in GOLD..So what's his weight worth now??Hopefully he will be in a Federal Prison on the East coast, so we can see him on visitors day!!Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha!!
Seriously?
3:16 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Wouldn't surprise me in the least if part of Mike's deal with the feds was to drop this lawsuit and give state's evidence against the Board members and Tom Monahan in return for a lenient prison sentence. Why should he go down alone when they are all just as guilty?
Can't shut me up
3:44 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
I'd be OK with that. Let them all hang together!!!
Mr. ?
3:57 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
States evidence? The FBI is all done. The Feds only indict when the crime is $500k or more. After that any individuals complicit (evidence of allegations given to the state) would go to the state and / or the county prosecutors office for investigation. Enough said...too bad! Too bad you cant get a list of those questioned by the FBI ! Any idea how many were involved with the recent corruption case involving ex senator John Lynch and were never prosecuted?
Daniel Nee
9:52 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
I believe you're mistaken factually on indictments. Daniel Van Pelt was indicted (and subsequently convicted) by the feds for taking $10,000 in bribes.
KC
2:48 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
I am trying not to be judgemental here, but you all are talking heavy jail time like as if that will happen. This guy will be like all the others a slap on the wrist to some minimum security country club for a few months is my prediction. Gosh I am so sick of these crooks everywhere. The rest of us can't even get normal jobs while they steal with two hands.
tuna stick
4:10 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
What's really a shame is that all the members of his clan want him to go away, and quietly, so they don't get caught up in the web of lies, and thievery. So we are left with the crooks who didn't have any guts to say something when they knew it was going on. Nice. And that's where it will end. Gilmore and his group don't want Ritacco saying anything about them, and since Gilmore and Co. got Christie elected as governor, Christie is loathed to make it anymore of an issue then what it is now. Think about it. Had this been a Democrat district, then Christie would be making the biggest stink about it, and how the school districts all have to reformed for better allocation of the tax dollars. But Governor Christie has been deafening in his silence about this. Wonder why?
This really is local politics at it's best (or worst, depending on where you sit). The taxpayers got taken for a ride, and the school children all suffered for the sins of a few. The sooner it can get swept under the rug, the sooner we can all go back to things as usual. That is takeing care of the crooked politicians & crooked BOE.
Laci
4:46 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
25 unused vacation days for 2009-2010, $24.062.50 just in the one examples
= $962.50 per day. Seems to me that the BOE members who approved Ritaccos contract are just as guilty of hosing the taxpayers of Toms River.
KC
2:49 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Wow tuna, you make a valid point about Chris Crisco.
Catherine Galioto
4:25 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
I attached the recent court documents to the article as .pdfs. The files are pertaining to the dismissal of the lawsuit, specifically.
Sue Martindell
6:16 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
You never hear anything about Frank D'Alonzo, whatever happened to him? I thought he pleaded guilty, but what was his sentence?
Greg
9:33 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
He hasn't been sentenced yet. The government was waiting to sentence him until the Ritacco trial was finished. Now, we just have to wait and see when Frankie is to be sentenced,
Landes
11:01 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
This whole senerio is absurd. If the checks and balances were in place this would have never happened. How is it, in this day and age that this did that not occur, are they all crocks? I am a resident of Toms River for the past 91/2 years, we came from a district where the Superintendent interacted with the students and their families. From day one this guy seemed too cocky for me. Open door policy is the way it should be, big, small or in between! Just always acting like he was better than the rest. The whole board of education and business office need to clean house, what a disgrace!!
Tired of the status quo
8:05 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
I could not agree with you more. But, the "Ritacco 6" as they are called all claim that they had no idea that any of this was going on! How could this be they we there supposedly there when these meetings were taking place. When any of these contracts came up for a vote they all sat there and nodded their head with a yes vote. Didn't anyone on the BOE want to look at these contracts and make sure that this was the best that they could have gotten? Or, were many of these people blinded by the fact that many of their family members and friends had obtained jobs in this district? Is the BOE not the Supers boss? I guess they were just blinded by "The Gold Star Standard" superintendent! Isn't that correct Mrs. Vasil as you were the one who told the residents that he was the "Gold Star Standard" and that the residents should be glad that they have him in the district. Oh, yeah we are really glad to have him, not only did he steal 1million to 2.5 million he has also brought shame to the children, residents, teachers and taxpayers of this town and district. But, then again the voters have to take some of the blame for this happening as many of us just kept on voting these same board members in year after year! Just remember that this coming November we have the chance to vote 3 of these members off the board. Two of these members are from Toms River and one if from South Toms River. This goes out to all of the BOE members Stupid is no excuse!!!
Landes
11:12 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The denial that these BOE members say they have no idea is just their defense. The monies must have padded their pockets as well. Where were the lawyers for the district, oh I know getting their pockets padded as well. Time to clean the WHOLE HOUSE. I pray that Ritacco will sing to anyone who will listen, and finally bring justice to the citizens of this town. The Government of the State of NJ should at minimum set standards for contracts with and for the districts within the state. More bureaucracy but protection for the citizens of this state. I am still quite disturbed by the school district not having the proper representation for the citizens, we as a voting public MUST rid the district of these theives!!
dave
6:16 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
hey bernie madoff , company coming soon! friggin thief!
A Resident
10:27 am on Thursday, April 26, 2012
It is amazing how so many residents of TR knew this was happening...and yet none of them acted on it and got anyone charged. Simply amazing.
Mr. ?
1:27 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012
"It is amazing how so many residents of TR knew this was happening...and yet none of them acted on it and got anyone charged. Simply amazing.".....and how do you think much of this happened? Yes, D'Alonzo was nabbed first down, was it North Carolina or Virginia, not paying taxes for his employees in a wellness center entity. They got him and then it started. Maybe think about how Ritacco's and co. wellness center plan hear was opposed and defeated. Connect the dots and ask how maybe "..... residents of TR knew this was happening...and yet none (WRONG!) of them acted on it and got anyone charged".... You mean like Ritacco himself?. The only part of your statement I will agree with is "how so many" continue to fail by not acting on their behalf and especially for our children! You tell me why there is not hundreds demanding the BOE members resign and professionals be fired! PATHETIC!
JohnnyT
12:13 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012
@A. Resident, How do you know? I am sure residents new what is going on. Most likely it was denied and covered up. Isn't that what happens in most schools? Common you know the ropes...denial, denial and more denial. It starts just like with the petition for Mr. Tom O'Hara. Everyone jumps on a bandwagon and really has no idea of the performance of these educators but yet there is so many willing to defend in exchange for a favor down the road. That is how it works. What is more disturbing is all the BOE members who went right a long with it all. These members should be about the children, parents and taxpayers first. But let's face it, most are not. They are about what can be done for them or their families down the road. That is the reality sir!
jason
1:54 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012
i am still waiting for all the people that were say how bad it was we investagated him to begin with, the said he is a saint of a man blah blah blah ,, where are u people now
1stcav
2:48 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012
65 facing 25 , for you Mike that's LIFE in prison & your Fathers good name down the toilet , hope you're proud of yourself for being sooooo greedy, you had the good life and blew it , such a waste of your life and the talent you once had to do the right thing , you would have went down in history as one of the greatest Super's. Now you've been lowered to, just another common thief and a jail bird.
Joseph E. Haelig
10:27 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012
Two more cronies fall, time to connect the dots all the way to 10 Allen St.
http://www.app.com/article/20120426/NJNEWS/304260032/-1/7daysarchives/Former-Mulligan-s-Bar-and-Restaurant-owners-plead-guilty-to-tax-evasion
Dante Lamort
10:57 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012
You should just sit back and enjoy your free life time for your entire family, Toms RIver tax payer funded, free health benefits that you get for your once a month meetings you went to for 25 years. This article had nada to do with Rittacaco's deal. The taxpayers teat is worn out from you types that get forever health benny's.