Former Galloway Principal John Gibson now center of Lawsuit Filed Against Prosecutors Office

A lawsuit recently filed by Walter Luers, Esq., on behalf of John Paff, against the Ocean County Prosecutors Office (OCPO) may soon bring additional answers to questions that have lingered for almost a year.  The lawsuit is online here.

Those questions are pointed as to what happened with Galloway principal John Gibson that he abruptly began paid leave absences from work and then later retired without again, according to payroll records, stepping foot back in the school district. 

According to Paff's website which has recorded the lawsuit filed, "The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office (OCPO) has acknowledged that it had prepared a June 6, 2014 investigation report into allegations made against John Gibson.  The OCPO also acknowledged that Gibson was interviewed at the Little Egg Harbor Police Department on January 27, 2014, only a few days before Gibson took his leave of absence.  According to the prosecutor's December 8, 2014 letter that denied access to both the investigation report and the video of the interview, the interview regarded "Mr. Gibson's involvement with a minor."

Galloway Ordered to Pay Over $16,000 in Legal Fees After Losing Lawsuit

Galloway Township has now been ordered to pay over $16,000 in legal fees in a lawsuit the Township lost in June 2013.  The fees are to be paid to Walter Luers, Esq., who is the attorney representing the Plaintiff John Paff.

On Tuesday, June 10, 2014, Superior Court Judge Nelson Johnson issued an order against Galloway Township Clerk TC Kay and the Township and ruled in favor of the Plaintiff John Paff.  

Emails Reveal Township Attorney Had Unusual Request to Hold a Judges Decision on a Lawsuit Until After 2013 Council Elections

As documents and emails in Paff v. Galloway et. al Lawsuit begin to be released by the Township and obtained by Galloway Township News, certain email conversations between Township Attorney Michael Fitzgerald and Attorney Walter Luers who represents John Paff in the Lawsuit against the Township, appear to be highly unusual. 

One email from October 28, 2013, just days before Galloway Township's Council Election appears to be the most interesting yet. 

Township Solicitor Michael Fitzgerald wrote in an email to opposing Attorney Walter Luers, "As you probably are aware, there are Galloway Township Council elections on November. Unfortunately, the partisan attacks back and forth and been unusually strong and often personal" Fitzgerald stated.  

Galloway Township Loses Lawsuit Filed by Open Government Advocate John Paff; Township Attorney Wants to Appeal

John Paff

After the Township spent over $20,000 in legal fees and costs, a lawsuit filed against the Township in 2013 has now received a decision by the Judge. 

On Tuesday, June 10, 2014, Superior Court Judge Nelson Johnson issued an order against Galloway Township Clerk TC Kay and the Township and ruled in favor of the Plaintiff John Paff. 

The order was the result of a lawsuit filed in Atlantic County Superior Court on August 19, 2013, alleging the Township refused to provide Paff with "copies of emails logs that they are capable of producing and have produced in the past."