Caldwell settled the suit filed by five of its residents.
Caldwell police did not admit any wrongdoing in the settlement. (File photo)CALDWELL -- The borough has agreed to pay residents $30,000 to settle a lawsuit claiming the police department conducted numerous unwarranted "welfare checks" at their home.
In the complaint, Craig DeVito and four other residents of a Gould Place home, argued that the Caldwell police department conducted several visits to the home in 2012 to check on the 3-year-old son of DeVito's daughter, Daryen. The checks were prompted by a Toms River man who requested the police check on his son's welfare, the lawsuit said.
After about five condoned visits, the DeVito family stopped giving permission for police to enter the home, the complaint said. Police conducted two additional checks without the family's permission and without a warrant, the suit alleged.
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The $30,000 settlement, which was reached on July 19 and does not admit any wrongdoing, avoids the $375,000 in damages sought by the plaintiffs.
The news was first reported by NJ Civil Settlements, which provides a partial list of settlements paid by New Jersey government agencies and their insurers to those who have sued them.
The plaintiffs were also seeking additional punitive damages for what they claimed were violations of their civil rights that resulted in anxiety, fear, and loss of sleep.
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.