Opinion ID: 201473
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Fafel's State and Federal Court Actions

Text: 2 We recount the undisputed facts and procedural history in some detail to provide an understanding of the unusual nature of this case. On April 10, 2002, Fafel filed a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, along with pendent state law claims, in federal district court against Defendant-Appellee, Middlesex County Sheriff James V. DiPaola, individually and in his official capacity, based on Fafel's termination from employment in April 2000. Specifically, Fafel alleged that DiPaola had caused a deprivation of Fafel's constitutional rights to freedom of association and due process in violation of § 1983 and its state law counterpart, Mass. Gen. L. ch. 12, § 11I, and that he had engaged in tortious interference with Fafel's employment. Fafel had already filed another action against DiPaola and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts arising out of the same incident in Massachusetts Superior Court alleging that Fafel had been terminated without the benefit of procedural protections required under Mass. Gen. L. ch. 35, § 51. On May 30, 2002, less than two months after the filing of his federal court action, Fafel obtained a court order in his state court action directing DiPaola and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reinstate Fafel with back pay. Judgment in Fafel's favor was not entered until approximately six months later, in January 2003.